By Blessing Odega
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)has called during secondary school students on the Plateau to imbibe the national core values of patriotism , discipline, integrity and safe Internet usage.
The Director - General of NOA , Dr Garba Abari, made the call in Jos, during a sensitisation and advocacy programme on national core values and safe Internet usage for secondary schools with the agency's integrity club in the state.
Abari, who was represented by the agency's director of Special Duties and State Operations, Mr David Akoji, reiterated that the advocacy and sensitisation programme drive is aimed at promoting the nation's core values, digital awareness , safe online practices and engaging with the students on the Integrity policy provision as well as the need to adhere to the policy pillars.
He said the programme was to inspire the youths and inculcate the core values of patriotism, discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance and self reliance as well as the safe and right use of the internet.
“This is a catch them young programme where students are taught national ethics, values at a young age with the hope that they imbibe these values in their day to day activities,"
" integrity is key to national development, as it is the center of national development which boosts the nation's economic development",
he said.
He explained that the agency had the mandate to promote national core values and ensure that the message was stressed until the students imbibed it and become good citizens.
The deputy director in charge of Programmes at the NOA Plateau office, Mrs Mary Shemu, who delivered a keynote address on safe Internet usage, said the internet has made the world a global village and has empowered many youths.
She urged them to imbibe the culture of safe browsing and the positives of the Internet.
Shemu, however cautioned against the wrong usage of the internet for nefarious activities.
She further cautioned parents against giving their young children mobile phone with Internet facilities unsupervised.
Earlier, State Director of NOA Plateau, Mrs Kaneng Pam-Hworo, in her the welcome address enjoined the students to pay rapt attention during the sensitization program me and go back to step down what they have learnt to their fellow students.
The Zonal Director of Education ,Northern zone Plateau, Mr Joseph Nyam, commended the agency, saying the programme was educative and would make the schools to stress more on national core values.
He explained that students who have knowledge of the core values would shun away from social vices such exam malpractice, cultism, bullying, theft, cybercrime among others.
Some of the students who participated in the programme, said the sensitisation programme was apt, educative and enlightening.
Trumpet reports that six schools drawn from the Southern senatorial zone of the state attended the sensitization and advocacy workshop in Jos
