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Tag: National Orientation Agency (NOA)

  • Ondo NOA advocates children’s rights

    Ondo NOA advocates children’s rights

    As part of activities marking this year’s Children’s Day, Ondo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has carried out advocacy outreaches across the state.

    It reinforced its commitment to the protection and development of children.

    Speaking during a service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Life Transformation Parish, Akure, the state Director, Mr James Adekunle, urged the congregation to prioritise children’s education and overall well-being.

    He emphasised the importance of quality education and skill development in unlocking children’s full potential and reducing the rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

    Deputy Director for the Southern Senatorial District, Mrs Bola Oguntuase, addressed worshippers at GOFAMINT Gospel Church, Favour Assembly, Ayeka in Okitipupa Local Government.

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    She called on parents and guardians to provide nurturing environments that allow children to grow into responsible, patriotic adults.

    Also lending his voice to the advocacy, Assistant Director and Head of the Youth, Ethics, and Integrity Department, Mr Babatunde Akinde, engaged members of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Home of Glory, Akure.

    He highlighted the day’s significance as a celebration of the joy, innocence and potential of every child, urging parents to remain committed to protecting children’s rights and offering love, guidance and opportunity.

    The series of visits underscored NOA Ondo’s dedication to building a society where children are not only seen as the leaders of tomorrow, but also supported as valuable contributors to the present.

  • How NOA mobilises NYSC members for civic rebirth

    How NOA mobilises NYSC members for civic rebirth

    The Cross River State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) exemplifies the agency’s civic mobilization mandate, writes Sola Thomas

    When the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Cross River State Directorate welcomed the 2023 batch of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Obubra, it was clear that the interaction was not going to be a regular one. The speeches delivered were not mere protocol, while the pamphlets handed out were not just for casual reading. They were conceived as blueprints for a civic movement in the making.

    Since 2023, the Cross River Directorate of the NOA has embarked on a dynamic journey to turn NYSC members into frontline civic ambassadors. At a time when trust in institutions is fragile and misinformation spreads faster than facts, NOA has chosen to see young corps members not as temporary visitors, but as powerful conduits for civic renewal in the state.

    “Every corps member is a potential change agent,” said an NOA official in Calabar. “If we equip them with the right knowledge and purpose, they become amplifiers of truth and unity in communities that need them most.”

    The process begins at the orientation camp. From the first week of the NYSC Orientation Exercise in Obubra, NOA officers are a constant presence, delivering lectures as well as facilitating discussions on national values, civic responsibility, and the urgent need for youth-led engagement. The NOA’s signature camp programme, “Know Your Country, Serve It Right”, uses interactive modules to teach corps members about the Nigerian Constitution, national symbols, public ethics, and the dangers of fake news. Role-plays, civic quizzes, and debates bring the sessions alive, often culminating in the formation of Civic Vanguards, a select group of corps members tasked with leading civic outreach in their places of primary assignment (PPAs).

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    Once deployed across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, corps members do not just teach in classrooms or assist in clinics, they become part of NOA’s community mobilisation network. In schools from Ogoja to Akamkpa, and health centres in Boki and Biase, they help facilitate town hall meetings, environmental awareness campaigns, and voter education drives.

    The NOA also assigns corps members to support its flagship grassroots programme, the “Citizens First” Civic Engagement Series, acting as translators, facilitators, and field reporters during community dialogues.

    “I thought I came here just to serve,” said Omolola Adebayo, a corps member deployed to Ikom. “But NOA showed me how to serve with meaning. Now I’m helping teenagers understand their rights and responsibilities. It’s empowering for them and for me.”

    In 2024, as misinformation around government policies, student loans, and food inflation grew in intensity, the NOA turned to NYSC members. Under the “Fact Not Fear” campaign, corps members were trained as grassroots fact-checkers. Armed with smartphones and simplified civic toolkits, they conducted community sensitization in markets, churches, and motor parks, distributing flyers and countering false narratives, often in Pidgin English.

    Corps members stationed in LGAs like Abi, Yakurr, and Etung became vital informants in NOA’s feedback loop, reporting local sentiments back to headquarters and helping to shape more targeted messaging.

    With Cross River State’s ecological heritage both a treasure and a responsibility, the NOA’s “Green Cross River” campaign found committed allies in the NYSC corps members, many of whom led school tree-planting initiatives and clean-up campaigns in their various places of primary assignment. In Obudu and Odukpani, corps members created student eco-clubs and designed skits to teach primary pupils about the dangers of bush burning and illegal logging. Others collaborated with the Ministry of Environment on local radio programmes, discussing sustainable practices in their host communities.

    With the state’s rich mix of ethnic groups and occasional eruption of clashes among the youth in urban centres, corps members have also been playing key roles in NOA’s “Youth for Peace” and “Unity in Diversity” campaigns.

    At cultural festivals and inter-faith gatherings, corps members staged dramas and recitations on national unity, tolerance, and civic harmony, drawing applause from traditional rulers and faith leaders.

    “It’s one thing to preach peace,” said Chief Eyo Eyo of Akpabuyo. “It’s another to see a young Yoruba girl in NYSC uniform reciting proverbs in Efik, telling our sons to shun violence. That’s when the message truly sinks in.”

    As part of NOA’s digital transformation, corps members have also been instrumental in piloting the NOA Mobiliser App, conducting digital surveys and submitting community feedback in real time. Several have taken to social media—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—to share civic tips, host local trivia competitions, and celebrate local heroes promoting unity.

    These platforms have become hubs of engagement, with corps members producing short videos on issues ranging from PVC registration to public health, often going viral within their host local government areas.

    As each batch of corps members completes their service year, many leave behind more than photos and memories. Some have founded civic clubs in schools. Others have launched WhatsApp advocacy groups still active long after passing out. A few have stayed behind, joining NGOs and agencies to continue the work they began during service.

    “I thought I’d just be marking time,” said Johnson Nwokolo, who served in Calabar South. “But working with NOA showed me what national service really means. I leave here more Nigerian than when I came.”

    For the NOA Cross River State Directorate, corps members remain not just partners, but proof that when young people are trusted, trained, and given a voice, they can do a lot, starting with the mindsets of the communities they serve.

    In an era of disconnection and doubt, the collaboration between NOA and NYSC in Cross River is quietly rebuilding public trust through civic awareness.

  • NOA’s charter for our common values

    NOA’s charter for our common values

    Cultism, the get-rich-quick syndrome, and a general disregard for ethical norms are troubling trends our dear Nigeria contends with. These forces, often intertwined, have eroded the moral foundations of our society, replacing hard work and integrity with shortcuts.

    We also see a situation where social pressures blur the lines between right and wrong and leave us to confront the consequences of a culture veering off course. Closely related to this is the foundational challenge of absence of trust and shared purpose.

    Enter the National Values Charter (NVC), a brain-child of the National Orientation Agency (NOA)!

    The NVC offers Nigeria a chance to rebuild something deeply foundational: trust, identity, and shared purpose. But like any charter, its worth will be judged not by its eloquence, but by its effect.

    During the last General Election, the division between Nigerians was on full display. Trust became a scarce commodity and suspicion was the product of the era and so many people patronised its merchants who made a kill.

    I was one of the many who were worried about the manner the electioneering period drew us apart as a people. As a nation of a people richly diverse and, at times, deeply divided, a shared sense of purpose is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. The National Values Charter, a key plank of the NOA’s National Identity Project, arrives at a time when cynicism towards public institutions is high, civic apathy is widespread, and national unity feels more aspirational than actual. Yet, if taken seriously, the NVC might just be the moral compass we need to steer Nigeria towards a more cohesive and ethically grounded future.

    At its core, the NVC is a deliberate attempt to renegotiate the social contract between the Nigerian state and its citizens. It lays out a “7 for 7” framework. The Federal Government makes seven promises, which are equality, democracy, entrepreneurship, peace and security, inclusivity, freedom and justice, and meritocracy. In return, the citizens have seven responsibilities, which are discipline, duty of care, tolerance, leadership, accountability, environmental awareness, and resilience.

    So far, this seems more than just a lofty manifesto. It gives the feel of a blueprint for national character, anchored in mutual responsibility. The charter makes it clear that governance cannot be effective without a morally engaged citizenry, just as citizens cannot thrive under a government that lacks integrity or purpose.

    NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu emphasized the importance of taking the rebranded message of the National Values Charter “down to all nooks and crannies across the nation.” Speaking through NOA State Director Mrs. Tracy Ikolomi at a town hall in Asaba, Onilu described the NVC as a call to national conscience and civic awakening. He added that Nigeria had been grappling with disturbing social trends such as cultism, the get-rich-quick syndrome, and a general disregard for ethical norms.

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    In this context, the NVC is not just a policy tool but a cultural intervention. The town hall meeting, which also spotlighted the National Anthem as a symbol of unity, served as a feedback loop, a way for citizens to speak and be heard by their government.

    This initiative is not about preaching from podiums. It is about engaging communities, listening to concerns, and collectively agreeing on the kind of Nigeria all of us desire and should work to build.

    The concept of a national values charter is not uniquely Nigerian. Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, for instance, was powered in part by Imihigo, a culture of performance contracts and civic accountability. Singapore institutionalised shared values such as nation before community, embedding them in both education and policy. In South Africa, the Batho Pele (“People First”) principles aimed to redefine governance through transparency and citizen-centered service delivery.

    These examples share a common thread: they sought to build nations not just with roads and buildings, but with values. The NOA, by launching the NVC, is joining this tradition of value-centered nation-building. Like in Singapore or Rwanda, where these values were reinforced with consistent follow-through, Nigeria must ensure that the NVC doesn’t become just another document that gathers dust on a shelf.

    A particularly commendable aspect of the NVC is its planned integration into school curricula and government training programmes. This long-term view, starting from the classroom to the executive council, is a step in the right direction. It aligns moral development with national education and governance, allowing for a generational reorientation.

    The NOA’s town hall efforts, such as the one in Asaba, are also critical. These engagements move the conversation from policy papers to real people, bridging the gap between governance and everyday life. The flyers being distributed carrying the message “Let us build Nigerians to build Nigeria” sum it up best. It’s not just about a better government; it’s about better citizens.

    I believe that to succeed, the National Values Charter must transcend political cycles and become a permanent national ethos. This requires ownership from the government to the civil society, religious institutions, the private sector, and most importantly, everyday Nigerians. These values must show up not just in official speeches but in market transactions, social media discourse, neighbourhood interactions, and courtroom decisions.

    Moreover, the NVC should be evaluated and reported on regularly through an independent, non-partisan body that tracks how both citizens and the government are measuring up to their ends of the bargain.

    It is a good thing that President Bola Tinubu understands the urgent need for a bold national orientation campaign, one that fosters patriotism, nurtures love for country, and inspires collective action. He recognises that Nigeria’s progress depends on a shared commitment between the government and its citizens, built on trust, cooperation, and unity across our diverse population.

    My final take: Nigeria has long struggled to agree on what it means to be Nigerian. The National Values Charter offers a starting point, not a perfect answer, but a framework around which consensus, character, and country can be rebuilt. If we seize the moment, household by household, classroom by classroom, street by street, office by office and every nook and cranny, this could be more than just policy. It could be a new national path forward.

  • How Delta NOA directorate drives grassroots mobilisation

    How Delta NOA directorate drives grassroots mobilisation

    The Delta State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is quietly reshaping the civic landscape through dialogue to inspire citizens to take ownership of their roles in nation-building, writes CHINYERE OKOROAFOR

    Around the streets of Warri, to the creeks of Bomadi and the urban avenues of Asaba, the Delta State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has is evolving into an engine for attitudinal change, strategic communication, and grassroots mobilization

    On assumption of office as the NOA Director-General in 2023, one of his earliest messages was that every state directorate must become a visible, action-oriented, and digitally aware hub for civic education and public trust.

    In Delta State, that charge seems to have found fertile ground, as the state directorate responded with energy, innovation, and a people-centered approach.

     “We saw the renewed mandate as a wake-up call,” said a senior officer in the Delta office. “We knew we had to do more than just disseminate information; we had to win back the hearts of the people.”

    One of the directorate’s major initiatives is the “Bringing Government Closer to the People” campaign. Through town hall meetings, community dialogues, and partnerships with local governments, NOA Delta has positioned itself as a two-way communication bridge, taking government policies to the grassroots and channeling citizen feedback back to Abuja.

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    In communities like Ughelli, Burutu, and Sapele, the directorate has hosted regular community engagement sessions where issues such as subsidy removal, the new student loan scheme, voter education, and the fight against fake news are openly discussed in local languages and pidgin English.

    This commitment to feedback has also extended to real-time civic monitoring. “We no longer operate in the shadows,” said the state director. “We are now tracking the public mood, gathering intelligence on misinformation, and helping the government refine how it communicates.”

    Delta State’s peculiar environmental and security challenges have also shaped the directorate’s programming. In riverine communities affected by oil spills and pipeline vandalism, NOA has fronted campaigns on environmental ethics, non-violent protest, and responsible resource stewardship.

    In collaboration with local youth leaders, the directorate launched the “Delta Youth for Peace and Progress” initiative in 2024. The initiative is a multi-tiered campaign that uses music, storytelling, and sports to engage young people in civic duty and discourage cultism, electoral violence as well as internet fraud (Yahoo Yahoo).

    One of the highlights was the Youth Peace Summit in Warri, which brought together over 300 young people from across ethnic lines for dialogue on conflict resolution and nation-building.

     “We’re not just preaching to the youth,” said one coordinator. “We’re building a new civic culture with them.”

    In the age of viral rumours and disinformation, NOA Delta has expanded its footprint into radio, television, and digital platforms. Regular appearances on local radio stations like Trend 100.9 FM and Delta Broadcasting Service have become vehicles for public enlightenment on topics ranging from health campaigns to civic rights.

    The introduction of The Explainer, the NOA’s fact-checking and policy decoding platform, has added a new layer of credibility. In partnership with media houses, NOA Delta trains journalists and social media influencers on ethical reporting and media literacy, thus pushing back against fake news and conspiracy theories that often spark divisive conversations and breed exacerbate bigotry.

    A key strategy that has deployed by the directorate is the deliberate effort to embed civic messaging within cultural institutions. The agency works closely with traditional rulers, town union leaders, and religious figures to provide cultural contexts to civic messages in a way that resonates locally.

    In Aniomaland, the directorate translated key policy messages into Igbo dialects. In the Ijaw-speaking parts of Burutu and Patani, community theatre and storytelling are being used as tools for environmental education and peacebuilding.

    “When the message comes from the palace or the pulpit, people listen differently,” noted an NOA mobiliser in Bomadi.

    In alignment with the NOA’s national shift to digital civic tools, the Delta State Directorate has embraced platforms like the Mobiliser App, where citizens can ask questions, report civic issues, and access real-time government information. Local social media campaigns featuring Delta youth influencers have also helped bridge the trust gap between young people and public institutions.

    The use of WhatsApp groups for community leaders has also proven effective in remote coordination, countering misinformation during crises such as flooding and fuel scarcity.

    Under the current dispensation, the directorate has engendered a resurgence in community participation across the state, with public response to NOA events growing significantly. For this, the directorate has been commended by civil society groups and local governments for its role in conflict mediation, environmental advocacy, and public education.

  • NOA takes value reorientation campaign to varsity

    NOA takes value reorientation campaign to varsity

    National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edo State Directorate, has continued its mission to instil national values and civic responsibility among youths, with an outreach to students of Wellspring University, Benin City.

    The session brought together a team of NOA officials, who delivered lectures aimed at enlightening students on pressing societal issues and inspiring responsible citizenship.

    Leading the NOA delegation was Head of Mobilisation Unit, Mr. Rawlings; alongside Deputy Director of Programmes, Mr. Vincent; Deputy Director of NOA Egor Formation, Mrs. Angela Odili; and Mrs. Sylvia Okunseri, whose graceful presence added value and encouragement to the proceedings.

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    Key topics covered during the lecture series included drug abuse and its consequences, core national values and orientation, as well as the dangers of get-rich-quick syndrome.

    In a symbolic gesture that further reinforced patriotic sentiment, students were given pamphlets of the national anthem and joined the NOA team in a spirited rendition. The moment underscored the agency’s ongoing commitment to fostering unity, pride and civic responsibility among the youth.

    The visit to Wellspring University marks another step in NOA Edo’s continuous effort to build a generation of responsible and value-driven citizens.

    The directorate expressed gratitude to the university for the warm reception and pledged to continue such engagements across other tertiary institutions in the state.

  • NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    In a significant stride towards combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) have solidified their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    The partnership aims to bolster HIV prevention efforts, reduce mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and eliminate stigma against individuals living with HIV across the country.

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    NOA, renowned for its extensive grassroots communication network spanning 774 local governments, joins forces with NACA’s specialised expertise in HIV response. Together, they plan to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns utilising diverse channels such as radio, television social media, town halls and community engagements. These initiatives are designed to ensure the inclusive and widespread dissemination of crucial information.

    Key components of the collaboration include the training of state directors and health desk officers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

    Additionally, the partnership will see the introduction of interactive phone-in radio programmes on 199 partner stations and the rollout of HIV-themed billboard campaigns nationwide.

  • World Malaria Day: NOA urges reignition of fight against malaria

    World Malaria Day: NOA urges reignition of fight against malaria

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reiterated its call on Nigerians to take decisive and sustained action against malaria.

    The call was made on Friday on the occasion of the 2025 World Malaria Day, which has as its theme: “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.”

    The theme is a rallying call for renewed national commitment to ending a disease that remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria.

    Malaria remains a deadly disease in Nigeria, particularly affecting children under the age of five and pregnant women, especially in rural and underserved areas.

    The NOA stressed the need for a united front, where individuals, communities, and institutions work hand in hand to prevent, detect, and treat malaria.

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    The agency also urged Nigerians to adopt life-saving habits such as sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, eliminating stagnant water, keeping the environment clean, and wearing protective clothing. It also warned against the dangers of self-medication, encouraging prompt visits to health facilities at the first sign of symptoms such as fever, chills, or fatigue.

    To deepen public engagement, the NOA is promoting accurate information sharing, encouraging citizens to support local health initiatives, and calling on communities to become active participants in Nigeria’s malaria response.

    According to the agency, ending malaria is not just a government responsibility, it is a shared duty that begins with each individual making small, consistent efforts.

    In line with its grassroots mandate, the agency, through its Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs), has continued to mobilise citizens in collaboration with traditional institutions, youth groups, and faith-based groups. These efforts align with national partnerships involving the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), aimed at enhancing community-based health education and malaria prevention.

    The NOA emphasised that while World Malaria Day is marked once a year, the fight against malaria must continue every single day. With consistent effort and collective will, the dream of a malaria-free Nigeria can become a reality.

  • NOA launches campaign against harmful chemicals in food preservation

    NOA launches campaign against harmful chemicals in food preservation

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ebonyi has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of using harmful chemicals for food preservation. During the campaign in Abakaliki, State Director Mr. Theophilus Nwokpor urged foodstuff dealers to abandon this dangerous practice. Nwokpor emphasised the significant health risks associated with these chemicals, warning that while their harmful effects may not be immediately visible, prolonged exposure could lead to serious health issues, including terminal diseases. He called on grain traders, particularly wholesalers supplying local and regional markets, to adopt traditional, safer methods of food preservation.

    “We are educating traders about the dangers of using harmful chemicals in food preservation,” Nwokpor said. “Our priority should be to provide food that nourishes, not one that endangers public health.”

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    Mr. Emeka Orajaka, State Coordinator of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), also condemned the use of toxic chemicals in food preservation. Represented by Mr. Obinna Okonkwo, NAFDAC’s Principal Regulatory Officer, Orajaka warned that violators would face legal consequences and highlighted the tragic loss of lives due to such practices.

    In response, Mr. Francis Nworie, Secretary of the Foodstuffs Dealers Association, called on the government to reduce the cost of Purdue Improved Crop Storage Bags from N3,000 to N500 to help traders adopt safer storage practices. Mr. Chidi Oduma, Chairman of the Association, supported this call, stressing that affordable storage options would promote food safety and reduce harmful preservation methods. The event included an interactive session with traders and a thorough inspection of food storage practices by officials.

  • NOA to students, youths: be positive

    NOA to students, youths: be positive

    National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged students and youths to  be positive  despite challenges of the nation.

    Speaking at 7 for 7 National Values Charter Campus Debate and Capacity Building in Lagos, Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stressed importance of youths in fostering  change.

    He urged youths to see themselves as key drivers of transformation in a country grappling with challenges.

    “This initiative is not just another training; it is a movement, a call to action for us to embrace our roles as custodians of national values, champions of leadership, and agents of change,” he said.

    A clinical psychologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospita, Dr Leonard Okonkwo, urged  youths to focus on creating solutions to problems and be hopeful of the future.

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    “Many emotional difficulties youths face are tied to perceptions of reality. If we change the way we interpret challenges, we can transform our emotions and behaviour,” he said.

    Programme Coordinator, Tolu Meduna, Speaking on significance of Join-the-Value-Train to Campus initiative, said this is a platform for young people  and students to dialogue about the country.

    At the end of the debate, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, won and got N5 million, while University of Ibadan, in second position, got N2 million.

    The debate provided a platform to explore striking the balance between promises and citizens’ responsibilities.

  • Female Genital Mutilation: Obaseki tasks orientation agency awareness campaign

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA), ministries of women affairs, communication as well as the media to publicize the provisions of the new Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law, which includes life imprisonment, without an option of fine for perpetrators of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.

    Obaseki who gave the charge in Benin City on Thursday in Benin City, the state capital, said that after signing the Violence Against Persons Bill into Law, there was urgent need to drive the awareness campaign to every nook and cranny of the state.

    “This is one law that is dear to my heart and the hearts of all stakeholders that supported it right from its conception, through its consideration in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    “Having a law against female genital mutilation is a major step but ensuring that people are aware of its existence is very important in our new resolve to rid Edo State of the practice,” the governor said.

    He added: “I urge all relevant government agencies with the mandate of publicising government activities, policies and programmes as well as members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to take the message to the grassroots so that we can achieve the desired impact.”

    Governor Obaseki on Tuesday signed the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Bill into law, to address all forms of violence and protect vulnerable members of the society.

    Signing the bill in Government House, Benin City, he noted that he was aware that the bill touches on fundamental practices among the people, assuring that he was not only signing the bill as a formality, but will ensure it is implemented to the  letter.

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    “We will not stop here by just signing the bill into law, but will commence the much difficult work of implementing it to the letter. It must be noted that this bill has been in consideration for over six to eight years but the time has come for us to have a law like this VAP Law, to protect the most vulnerable and weak in our society.

    “As a government, we have aligned with the Federation of Women Lawyer (FIDA)’s purpose and objective and therefore have no hesitation in signing the bill into law,” he said.

    “I want to appreciate FIDA for their doggedness, leadership and commitment to this cause. I am not sure many other states in the nation has such bills. This bill goes to the core of some of the most pressing issues in society particularly violence against women and other persons.”

    Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, told the governor that the newly signed VAP law will eliminate violence in private and public life.

    “This bill prohibits violence against all persons and provides maximum protection and effective remedy for victims and punishment for offenders and other related matters,” he said.

    “This bill was sent to the EDHA in the fourth Assembly but suffered a setback. It also suffered a setback in the fifth Assembly but it was passed in the sixth Assembly.”

    Adjoto commended the wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki for her doggedness, dedication, and commitment in ensuring that the bill is passed into law.

    He said rape is properly defined in the bill and a rapist will now spend his or her life in prison, adding, “If a man beats his wife, he risks two years in prison if the case is proven. It is now an offense for men to abandon their duties of upbringing as the responsibility is not for women alone.  Female genital mutilation now attracts life imprisonment without an option of fine.”

    Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, commended the Edo State Governor for assenting to the VAP bill, stressing that the government is gender-sensitive.

    She thanked the speaker of the sixth Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto for ensuring the passage of the bill and that all important sections are intact.

    “This bill takes care of everything related to violence against persons,” she noted.