by Harrison Obetta
The National Orientation Agency(NOA)has taken the campaign on patriotism to Corps Members;tasking them on their roles in nation building and promotion of the National Values Charter.
This was contained in a Paper “National Values Charter and Nation Building: The Role of Corps Members” which was delivered by the State Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA),Imo State; Mrs.Maureen Oparaji recently. Mrs.Oparaji made this appeal at the Orientation Course for Batch “A”, Stream II of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Nkwerre LGA of Imo State.
Mrs.Maureen,who was represented by the Assistant Director(AD),Orientation,NOA,Imo State;Mr. Chidinma Emerem stated that the Agency has the constitutional mandate to engage and mobilise citizens towards actualising the Nigeria of our collective dreams. Tacitly,the NOA Chief espoused that the execution of the Corps Members’ roles would help in fighting social vices in a society that is bedeviled by misdirection of values. She said that an understanding of the National Values Charter orchestrated by the Agency;which regulates the life of a nation towards achieving its goals;would enable the Serving Corps Members to imbibe the values that binds us indivisibly.
Explaining that the National Values Charter is a social contract between the country and its citizens that will define Government’s Responsibilities and Expectations from Citizens,Mrs.Maureen hinted that the NVC is a brainchild of the new Director General(DG)of the National Orientation Agency(NOA),Mallam,Dr.Lanre Issa-Onnilu. She added that the National Values Charter(NVC)is targeted at revamping the moral fibres of the Nigerian society. She noted that it is,also,called the National Lifestyle Charter which comprises of the Nigerian Promise and the Citizens Codes. The Director pointed out that such values like Equality,Democracy, Entrepreneurship, Inclusiveness, Freedom and Justice, Peace and Security and Meritocracy were some of the responsibilities of Government as represented by elected Office Holders. She added that Discipline,Family Value and Environmental Awareness,Duty of Care, Leadership and Patriotism, Resilience,and etcetera were some of the obligations of citizens to the nation and appealed to the patriotic zeal of the Corps Members to live out these values. The NOA Boss congratulated the Corps Members for being enlisted to serve their fatherland and encouraged them to use their individual determination and collective dedication vis-a-vis the Can-Do spirit of Nigeria to domesticate the National Core Values anywhere they find themselves. She noted that getting involved in the restoration of moral rectitude and campaign against social malaise will support the establishment of harmony in the nation and counter some perceptive misconceptions.
Mrs.Oparaji,therefore,charged the Corps Members to consistently set a peaceful socio-economic space and be good ambassadors of a new Nigeria.
Anthony.O.Okonkwo,
Public Relations Officer(PRO),
National Orientation Agency(NOA),
Owerri,Imo State.
