..Targets student behaviour, flood preparedness, and National Unity
By Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off a nationwide sensitisation campaign in Bauchi State, aimed at promoting citizen awareness, strengthening national identity, and deepening trust in government.
Speaking during the launch at the Federal Secretariat, Bauchi, the Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between government and citizens while fostering national unity.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Alhaji Nuru Yusuf Kobi, the DG said the campaign will focus on five thematic areas: curbing unruly graduation ‘sign-out’ practices among students, flood mitigation and disaster preparedness, national security awareness, youth and student values re-orientation, and respect for Nigeria’s national identity and symbols.
Issa-Onilu expressed concern over the rising trend of disorderly celebrations by graduating students, stressing that such practices would no longer be tolerated. “There must be a stand against this unruly behaviour,” he said.
The sensitisation campaign, he noted, will be implemented across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and all 774 local government areas through press conferences, town hall meetings, school visitations, market and motor park rallies, advocacy visits to community leaders, and roadshows.
Highlighting ongoing government programmes, the NOA boss disclosed that over 600,000 students are already benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) with N59 billion disbursed. He added that more than two million households have been empowered through Conditional Cash Transfers, while Trader Moni and Farmer Moni loans continue to provide interest-free support to small traders and farmers.
Other federal government interventions, he said, include the renovation of 700 rural schools, N110 billion earmarked to support 150,000 youths under the National Youth Investment Fund, and the SUPA Project for nationwide artisan upskilling. On disaster management, he revealed that N3 billion per state has been approved for drainage clearance and relocation of flood-prone communities, based on NiMet’s weather forecasts.
On security, Issa-Onilu noted that 15,000 new personnel, drones, armoured vehicles, and surveillance technologies have been deployed nationwide to boost safety.
He urged citizens to embrace the campaign, stressing that it was not only about disseminating information but also about listening to Nigerians, engaging them, and fostering shared ownership of government policies and programmes.
“Our campaigns are not just about information,” he said. “They are about listening to Nigerians, engaging them, and fostering a sense of ownership in government programmes and policies.”
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