By Faith Obams, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE NATIONAL Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerian youths to reject violence and drug abuse, stressing that they remain the pride of the nation and the hope for a better future.
Director General of the agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, delivered this message in Lokoja during the North Central Zonal Campus Debate Series 2025, held under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Defining Nigerian Identity in a Multicultural Society.”
He was represented at the event by the North Central Zonal Director, Dr Priscilla Gondoalour.
The debate series gathered students from institutions across the country to engage in discussions aimed at strengthening national unity, patriotism, and identity.
Issa-Onilu noted that the initiative was not merely a contest but a deliberate civic engagement platform created to promote dialogue among youths.
He cautioned against violence, drug abuse, and hooliganism, urging students to embrace values that foster peace, national cohesion, and patriotism.
According to him, the structure of the debate series includes a three-tier format where institutions across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory submit video entries for evaluation.
The winning entries progress to the national stage in Abuja, scheduled to coincide with Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Issa-Onilu explained that the final competition would be hosted at the Presidential Villa, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to unveil the National Value Charter.
The charter, he said, would amplify the voices of Nigerian youths and provide a national framework for celebrating their role in shaping the country’s future.
The Director General stressed that the agency had created new platforms to ensure youths’ voices are consistently heard, reaffirming NOA’s commitment to advancing unity and celebrating Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
He also commended the agency’s zonal and state directors, staff, facilitators, and stakeholders for their efforts in sustaining the debate series nationwide and enabling Nigerian youths to thrive on the platform.
Kogi State NOA Director, Patrick Edogbanya, lauded the active participation of students, lecturers, traditional rulers, and organisations in supporting the agency’s initiatives.
He described the debate series as a clear testament to NOA’s dedication to youth empowerment and the promotion of a collective national identity.
The event also featured goodwill messages from religious, traditional, and academic leaders. Chairman of Jama’atu Nasiru Islam (JNI), Ambassador Usman Bello; the Estu Adankolo, Chief David Agbayi; and several university deans praised the initiative and commended NOA’s innovative strategies designed to sustain national unity in diversity.
The debate concluded with Miss Gift Adejoh of the Federal University Lokoja emerging as the winner. She received a certificate of recognition for her outstanding performance.
Adejoh expressed gratitude to the agency, noting that the initiative would significantly inspire Nigerian youths to embrace values that advance unity and patriotism.
