The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Wednesday announced the commencement of a two-week nationwide enlightenment campaign.
According to the director general of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the campaign will focus on five thematic areas, which are: National enlightenment on government policies, programmes and activities; flood mitigation and disaster preparedness; national security awareness; national values reorientation for students against extreme sign-out practices; and Nigerian identity titles project and national symbols campaign.
Issa-Onilu, who briefed the media on the exercise, said it will hold in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
He stressed that the exercise is not just another campaign but one with the intent of reawakening the minds of the people.
“Today marks the beginning of a two-week nationwide civic engagement drive across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, and across all the 774 Local Government Areas of our great country.
“This is not just another campaign-it is a coordinated national awakening that touches the very heart of our identity, safety, values, and development.”
Issa-Onilu said the campaigns are designed to address some of the most pressing issues in the communities.
He stressed, “Nigeria stands at a defining moment. Our democracy thrives only when citizens are informed and actively engaged. Our communities are safer when citizens are alert and cooperative. Our youth flourish when guided by the right values. Our heritage endures when we uphold our symbols and identity. Our lives and livelihoods are preserved when we prepare ahead of natural disasters.
“Yet across the country, recent surveys and field reports have shown gaps in awareness, harmful practices, and misinformation that threaten our unity, safety and progress.”
The campaign, the DG therefore said, is a response to those gaps.
Stressing the reorientation for students, Issa-Onilu said, “Graduation should be a moment of pride, not danger.”
He therefore said attention would be to work with parents, school authorities and the students on the need to promote safe, value-based celebrations that uphold discipline, dig it and patriotism.
He also said the campaign will revive the respect for our national symbols like the flag, the coat of arms, the Naira, etc.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
