The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his foresight in establishing the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED) to address and rejuvenate societal values.
Dr. Olukemi Afolayan, the Oyo State Director of NOA, made this statement during a visit from the Director General of OYMASED, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, and his team on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Dr Afolayan expressed her enthusiasm about collaborating with the new agency to enhance orientation, public enlightenment, and social mobilisation efforts across the state.
She emphasised that both agencies are partners in progress rather than rivals, acknowledging the significant scope of orientation work and the need for collective support to achieve success.
Dr. Afolayan praised Dr. Morohunkola Thomas’s appointment as the DG of OYMASED, calling it a “round peg in a round hole,” and commended him for his swift and effective start within the agency’s short period of operation.
She assured that all NOA staff members across the state would be directed to work cooperatively with OYMASED to ensure maximum success, noting that a shared burden is lighter.
In her advice to OYMASED, Dr Afolayan suggested the establishment of integrity clubs at the primary school level to address moral decay from an early age.
She highlighted that NOA has already inaugurated Integrity Clubs in over 69 public secondary schools across the state to instill national core values such as patriotism, dignity of labour, and diligence, as well as Yoruba cultural values like respect for elders. These values are communicated in Yoruba to maximise their impact.
Dr. Afolayan also reiterated NOA’s ongoing partnerships with market associations, youth groups, faith-based organisations, and motor and Okada unions to spread the message of value renewal and societal improvement.
The Director General of OYMASED, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, earlier stated his agency’s resolve to partner with NOA and avail the agency of useful and timely information that can smooth their collaboration.
Dr. Thomas added that OYMASED was created to expand the economy and enhance productivity through well-informed and morally upright citizenship.
He lamented the value degeneration noticeable in all spheres of society and reiterated the Oyo State Governor’s determination to end this trend sooner rather than later.
He said part of the efforts to create a value-based society includes providing inputs to small-scale farmers, heavily subsidised transportation, community lighting, and more to cushion the effects of economic hardships and encourage the spirit of patriotism, hard work, trust, respect for elders, integrity, peaceful coexistence, and other core values.
The DG emphasised that his agency is embarking on serious campaigns to put Oyo State residents on positive attitudinal paths.
He stressed the need for adherence to rules and regulations, maintaining a cleaner environment, avoiding street trading, refraining from illicit drugs that can ruin future generations, and mobilising parents to impart positive values to move the state forward. “Shallow mentality is not allowed again,” he stressed.
The NOA Oyo State Director symbolically presented the National Flag and other IEC materials to the visiting Director General.
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