National Orientation Agency Embarks On Nationwide Sensitisation Campaign On 5 Thematic Areas

By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina

National Orientation Agency (NOA) has embarked on Nationwide sensitisation campaign on five (5) thematic areas of concern for development and progress of the Country.

The agency’s director in charge of Reforms and Coordination, Mr John Bala disclosed this during a press conference held at the Federal Secretariat in Katsina.

Mr John Bala named the five thematic areas as, National security awareness towards achieving improved security consciousness in communities nationwide; Nigerian identity project and National symbols; Flood mitigation; National values re-orientation for Students of Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions against “Sign Out Extreme Practice” and lastly, Government Policies, programmes and activities.

Mr John said in recent times, the agency has expanded its messaging platforms to meet the diverse audience demography in addition to deployment of an artificial intelligence “persona call CLHEEAN” to the agency’s website.

Accordingly, he said in the next couple of weeks, NOA would physically engaging public in the 36 States, Federal Capital Territory and 774 local government areas for under ground approach in various communities to enable members of the public speak to government on their minds, ask questions and get answers on programs and policies of the government that required clarity.

Speaking on the National Security awareness campaign, Mr John Bala emphasised that, NOA would be out to reach not less than three million Nigerians per state through Media engagement, Markets and Motor park rallies, town hall meetings, advocacy Visits to traditional and religious leaders, road shows as well as Community engagements.

On flood and disaster, Mr John Bala noted that, poor drainage system and careless dumping of waste in drainage system have often resulted in floods in various states of the Federation like effects of flood recently in Niger, Kogi, Rivers, Anambra and Bayelsa states.

He said many states have suffered severe effects of flood over the years despite NiMet regular early warning advisories with 90% accuracy and Presidential Flood Mitigation directive involving three billion Naira per state in 2024 aimed at drainage clearance and relocation.

On National Values re-orientation campaigns, Mr Bala said it would focus against extreme graduation practices by Students and Youths with do not align with our culture while the campaign on National identity and National symbols sensitisation would promote adherence to right attitude towards National symbols such as “the Flag, the Naira, the Nigerian Passport.in addition at familiarizing the Public with the current National Anthem,Unity and Patriotism.

However, Mr John Bala explained that, NOA would sensitised Nigerians effectively on the importance of government programs such as NULFUND Student loan, Social Safety Nets Expansion, Renewed hope infrastructure fund, National youth investment fund (NYIF) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

“Over fifty-nine billion Naira has been disbursed by current Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as loan for qualified Nigerians who are schooling in Public Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria to ensure that no Nigerian person who has qualified to go for tertiary education is prevented from doing so, as result of inability to pay School fees,” Mr John Bala emphasised.

Mr John Bala reiterated that,” The loan is fully digital, applications are made online at the NELFUND website and tuition fees are paid directly to the School on behalf of successful applicants, over 60,000 students have been on boarded.”