Lorine Emenike
As part of its bid to ensuring best moral practices in the nation, the National Orientation Agency has organized a nationwide attitudinal reorientation program for tertiary institutions. The one-day sensitization program for students in Rivers State was held at the University of Port Harcourt.
In his opening address, the National Director of the agency Mr Garuba Abiri, who was represented by the Cross Rivers State Director of the agency Mrs Florence Esang, said the basis for the program is to eradicate the incessant ills been noted among the Nigerian students.
“The campus focus has become highly imperative due to the vices that have bedevilled the Nigeria tertiary institutions which include, cultism, examination malpractices, drug abuse, trafficking, sexual harassment and the alarming trend of suicide, having in mind that the implications of these have adverse and far-reaching consequences in our youths who constitute the bulk of the nation.
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“It is in view of the foregoing that the National Orientation Agency as a social engineering institution in the discharge of its mandate is launching its nationwide reorientation program for students in tertiary institutions across the federation in order to reorientate and educate students on the ills and dangers of social vices and provide a platform for continued engagement with different stakeholders on how to curb them.
“The objectives of this program is to awaken the consciousness of students of tertiary institutions on the need to embrace our national core values to create sustainable synergy between the National Orientation Agency and tertiary institutions for values reorientation”
Earlier the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ndowa Lale who played host to the event, applauded the National Orientation Agency for choosing his institution as the host of the program.
Prof. Ndowa who was represented by the dean of students affair, Dr Ekpeyong said the program was timely, stating that “we want a better Nigeria and a secured environment”.
However, he pledged his school’s support in activities that will enhance the well being of the students and staff of the institutions and asked for partnership with NOA and other MDAs to foster a conducive and safe environment in the campus.
The Rivers State Director of National Orientation Agency, Barr. Young Ayo-Tamuno said the programme was designed to address the vices existing in tertiary institutions.
“Considering the implications of these vices and their negative impact particularly on the youths who constitute the bulk of the population that drives the process of governance and development in every society, it is the earnest expectation that this program will yield positive outcome by curtailing the rising trend of social vices in tertiary institutions”
Also, the president of the students union government (SUG) of Uniport, in his remark, thanked NOA and their partners in organizing the program for students.
He further stated “I think our society is gradually drifting away from the core values which our parents were brought up with. I think it is important that this program held regularly so students can be sensitized”
