Ondo State NOA Engages Achievers University Students on National Anthem and Values Charter
In a bid to instill national consciousness and revive ethical values among the youth, the Ondo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has engaged students of Achievers University, Owo, in a dynamic session on the National Anthem and the National Values Charter.
The event, was held at the Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Auditorium within the school premises on Thursday, October 24, 2024, drew a large crowd of students eager to be part of Nigeria’s moral rejuvenation.
Mr. James Adekunle, the State Director of NOA, highlighted the significance of the National Anthem in uniting Nigerians. He stressed the need for every citizen to be familiar with the anthem, noting that while the first stanza should be sung at all events, the full anthem is reserved for special national occasions such as Democracy Day and the inauguration of elected leaders. Mr. Adekunle also announced plans to adopt the third stanza as the official national prayer.
Touching on the erosion of national values, he expressed concern about the alarming decline in discipline and morality across the country. “The decay in our values is deeply disturbing, and we must take collective action to reverse it,” he said. The Nigeria seven promises to citizens—Equality, Democracy, Entrepreneurship and Employment, Peace and Security, Inclusivity, Freedom and Justice, and Meritocracy—were also introduced, alongside the agency’s core citizen codes of Discipline, Duty of Care, Tolerance and Respect, Leadership, Transparency, Environmental Awareness, and Resilience.
Addressing the issue of corruption, Pastor Adekunle condemned the misappropriation of public funds, saying it is unacceptable for a single individual to siphon billions from the nation’s coffers, which he attributed to value erosion.
He further warned about the environmental degradation caused by human negligence, which, he said, has led to nature “fighting back.”
National Values Charter institutional frame work include the introduction of cartoon and film content that promote indigenous values for children, the integration of citizenship education at all levels of schooling, and the establishment of Citizens Brigades with 1,000 members from each state and the FCT. The agency also aims to orient government officials on their responsibilities to the public and promote national symbols such as the coat of arms and the National Anthem.
During an interactive session, students expressed their concerns about the state of the nation. In response, the NOA leadership encouraged everyone to work together toward building a peaceful and progressive country.
Pastor Adekunle, speaking to journalists afterward, expressed optimism about the future, noting the students’ enthusiasm. “Their reception of the message gives me great hope for Nigeria,” he remarked.
The NOA’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Ralph Oguntibeju, provided details on the agency’s social media platforms for further engagement, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Chleeal.
Some of the students, Joda Tenny-Ann Sharon from the Department of Pharmacy, Akintade Ayomide, Aralola Adigun from the Faculty of Law, and Aderibigbe Mary of the Department of Nursing expressed their excitement about the initiative, voicing their belief that Nigeria is on the path to greatness as they pledged to fulfill their civic responsibilities and urged the nation’s leaders to do the same.
Other key figures at the event included Mr. Oluwadare Adebayo, Mr. Oyeromi Idowu, and Mr. Tayo Ogunjobi from the NOA, as well as Mr. Samuel Ojemi, Dean of Students Affairs at Achievers University who in his closing remarks thanked the NOA team for their impactful visit and wished them safe mercies.