The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has begun sensitisation activities to reorient students on national core values and patriotism to stem social vices in Gombe State.
The Director of the Agency in the state, Mrs Adaline Patari stated this at the sensitisation exercise on Thursday in Gombe.
She said the exerciss became necessary in view of the increasing cases of social vices such as drug abuse, crimes and deviant behaviours.
Patari said that a good knowledge of the national core values would help children and youths to understand their social responsibilities and mould their character for the benefit of the country.
She listed national core values to include patriotism; discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, self-reliance, social justice and religious tolerance, stressing that it remained a vital tool for peace building in any society.
“The Agency has over the years organised series of programmes to ensure that these values are internalised by Nigerians.
“Value re-orientation drive of the NOA seeks to create a deliberate consciousness in Nigerian citizens towards reviving and internalising our core value system which bothers on respect, honesty, discipline, accountability, patriotism, transparency and responsibility.
“You are therefore, expected to embrace, imbibe and promote these core values in your daily live,” she said.
The director said the youth had greater roles to play in making the future of the country better by accepting to abide by the values to promote peace, unity and development of the country.
Patari said that when students and youth do the right things and exhibit good morales, it would reduce crime rate and complement government’s efforts towards ensuring security for national development.
Also, Mr Oqua Etim, the Commissioner of Police in the state, enjoined the students to discipline themselves wherever they go.
Etim said that many students and youth had missed their opportunities to be great because of indiscipline and lack of self control.
Represented by SP Mary Malum, Etim urged the students to be vigilant in their communities and report suspicious attempts to breach peace to relevant authorities.
“For the female students, please be careful where and how you move around, with the increase in rape of minors, you just have to be careful and be conscious of your community”.
In a presentation, Mr Abdu Shinga, an Assistant State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), counseled the students to shun drug abuse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Agency distributed leaflets on core values to 50 students drawn from 10 public and private schools in the state.
Other participants include representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), religious and community leaders.
