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Tag: National Orientation Agency (NOA)

  • NOA, NACA partner to stop spread of HIV, AIDS

    NOA, NACA partner to stop spread of HIV, AIDS

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it will partner with National Agency for Control of Aids (NACA) to strategise and stop the scourge of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) at the grassroots.

    Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General of NOA made this known when the Director-General of NACA, Dr Sani Aliyu paid him a courtesy call at NOA Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

    Abari said the time had come for the campaign against HIV and Aids to take root at the grassroots level where the scourge was prevalent.

    According to Abari, the high rate of spread of the disease has become worrisome despite effort of government and international community at curbing the spread in the last 10 years.

    “If information does not get to the lower community level of the society, we will continue to have this high incidence in our communities.”

    He said the NOA would transcend the traditional channels of medical advocacy through mass media to face to face interaction and other communication platforms which the agency usually deployed to achieve its communication tasks.

    He outlined the structure of the agency at the lower community levels that had helped in different collaborations with other agencies.

    “With the Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers at the grassroots level, the agency speaks different local languages across the breadth and width of country with credible and reliable source of information,” Abari said.

    Earlier, the D-G of NACA,  said that the essence of the visit was to seek ways of benefitting from NOA’s platforms for propagating government programmes and policies, especially to mobilise grassroots support for the campaign against HIV and AIDS.

    Aliyu said his priorities include increasing government funding for HIV and AIDS projects in view of the dwindling patronage from foreign donors.

    “The foreign donors had borne more than 80 per cent of huge cost of efforts to curb the scourge and to reduce mother-to-child transmission rate to the minimum.

    He said that only 10 out of the 36 states of the country were contributing their counterpart funding.

    Aliyu added that states with the highest prevalence rate of HIV had not contributed a dime to the fund in the last two years.

  • NOA director tasks parents to strengthen moral values in family

    NOA director tasks parents to strengthen moral values in family

    Mr Isaac Onukwube, State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Enugu State, has tasked parents to strengthen moral values in their families for proper upbringing of their children.

    Onukwube said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Enugu.

    According to him, family values need to be strengthened to curtail the high rate of crime and violence in the society.

    He expressed concern that parental care was lacking in many families in the society, a development he said had led many children to indulge various types of crime such as cultism and other anti-social activities.

    Onukwube also urged parents to have the number of children they could inculcate discipline and respect in to curtail crime in every community.

    He also called on parents to desist from displaying bad attitudes, adding that their children could easily copy them and by so doing, bring destruction on the society.

    “I call on every parent to desist from doing evil, for example, telling lies because their children will definitely learn from them.

    ”With such bad attitude the children of such parents will see cheating as a normal thing in life,” he said.

  • NOA urges positive attitude toward national values, symbols

    NOA urges positive attitude toward national values, symbols

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for a positive attitude toward national values, identities and symbols.

    The NOA Director in Enugu State, Mr Isaac Onukwube, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday.

    Onukwube urged Nigerians to also exhibit attitudinal change to things that impact negatively on the socio-economic and political growth of the country.

    ‘‘Our lives and what we do and say must reflect the needed change that would make this country great and the envy of all.

    ‘‘Countries are built and advanced by individual patriotism and the contributions of its citizens.

    ‘‘In other climes, we see how their citizens have deep reverence for their national values, identities and symbols.

    ‘‘We see how they participate with zeal in national civic and volunteer efforts, even in their electoral processes.’’

    The director said that the agency had commenced massive publicity using all channels of communication to positively change the present orientation of Nigerians, especially targeting the youths.

    ‘‘We are using local radio and television talks and jingles as well as direct communication with our people at public fora.

    ‘‘NOA also gives talks in churches, mosques and communities on the need to imbibe the change mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration,’’ he said.

  • NOA inaugurates North-West LG Assembly

    NOA inaugurates North-West LG Assembly

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has inaugurated a Local Government Assembly in the North-West zone of the country, to educate people at the grassroots on the policies and programmes of the government.

    NOA Director-General Garba Abari said at the inauguration ceremony at Kagarko Local Government Secretariat, Kaduna, that the assembly would assist the government to meet the yearnings of rural dwellers.

    Abari explained that the creation of the assembly was in line with the agency’s mandate to enlighten Nigerians on the need to support the government in its efforts toward developing the country.

    According to him, the assembly provides a platform for direct interaction with the people, to enable the government to know the pressing needs of rural dwellers with a view to addressing them.

    Abari said that a similar assembly would soon be inaugurated in the South-West, adding that it is the best channel to achieve a better Nigeria.

    Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Kabir, the Chairman, Kagarko Local Government Area, commended NOA for the laudable initiative and urged the residents to sustain the relative peace in the area.

    In a remark, Mohammed Usman, the Divisional Police Officer, Kagarko Police Station, also assured the residents that efforts were being made to sustain peace in the area.

  • NOA Boss appeals for patronage of parks, tourist sites

    NOA Boss appeals for patronage of parks, tourist sites

    Dr Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to patronise the nations parks and game reserves as a way of developing the tourism sector in the country.

    Abari made the remark in a statement signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, Head of Press Unit, NOA, and issued out in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The Director General, who was speaking when the Conservator-General of the National Park Services (NPS), Alhaji Ibrahim Goni paid him a courtesy visit, said that Nigeria had all it takes to be a tourism nation.

    Abari said that the government was working hard to restore the security of the country to normalcy and citizens must develop love and patriotism for the country.

    Abari called for relationship between NOA and NPS to be deployed at all levels to propagate government policies and programme.

    The NOA boss said that the Agency had offices in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as 774 Local Government Areas and the Federal (FCT).

    He said that such presence in the country gave the agency robust platforms to educate and enlighten the citizens about the abundant wild life and tourism resources in the nation.

    According to him, Nigeria has what it takes to be a tourism destination for all.

    In his speech, Goni said that the essence of his visit was to seek ways of collaboration with NOA for effective advocacy and enlightenment on National Park Services.

    He said that the NPS had been upgraded to a paramilitary organisation in line with international standard and was seeking support for mass awareness and publicity.

    Goni stated that the NPS if properly positioned could serve as agent of rural transformation, integration, creation of employment and provision of health facilities for the host community.

  • Democracy, best form of government for Nigeria – NOA

    Democracy, best form of government for Nigeria – NOA

    Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), says democracy remains the best form of government for Nigeria given the nation’s unique composition, history and international relevance.

    Abari said this in a congratulatory message signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, Head, Press Unit, NOA, to Nigerians on the 2017 Democracy Day that marked 18 years of unbroken democratic governance in the clountry.

    He said that this year’s democracy day is symbolic based on the fact that young Nigerians who were only born when we returned to democratic governance have now turned 18.

    “They have come of age to participate fully in the democratic processes of our nation.

    “Therefore, our concern at this time should be to deepen such acceptable societal values and advance such principles of governance that will not only enable our great nation further assert itself as the leader of African continent.

    “Where rights and freedoms are sacrosanct but also ensure that we bequeath to our future generations the best form of governance. Only democracy can guarantee that,” Abari said.

    He also urged Nigerians to use the 2017 democracy day to recommit themselves to their civic duty of participating fully in electoral processes because free and fair elections are the foundations of any true democracy.

    Abari therefore urged Nigerians of 18 years and above who do not yet possess a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to take advantage of the on-going Continuous Voter Registration exercise across the country to register.

  • Ebonyi NOA reviews essential family practices on infants

    The Ebony office of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has organised a review meeting on demand-creation for essential family practices to ensure that infants and young children were properly fed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the review meeting held in Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone of the state on Wednesday.

    The state’s NOA Director, Dr Emma Abba, said that the essence was to review the resolutions and action-plans on essential family practices such as basic education.

    Others are infant and young child feeding, safe excreta disposal and hand washing among others.

    “This is to ascertain the achievements made so far at the community level to ensure that pregnant women attend complete Anti-Natal Care (ANC) and children given full immunisation and basic education.

    “It is also aimed at ensuring that infant and young children are properly fed; I commend the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for its sustained efforts on child survival,’’ he said.

    He pledged to work assiduously to extend the campaign on essential health practices to all parts of the state.

    Mrs Roseline Ede, a retired Health Officer and Resource Person at the meeting, said that essential family practices would guarantee healthy living.

    “Participants such as community leaders should integrate essential family practices such as ANC attendance and exclusive breastfeeding among others in their meetings.

    “Any pregnant woman who fully attends ANC stands the chance of having safe delivery and reduced chances of child morbidity.

    “A mother who adequately breastfeeds her child enjoys quicker recovery after childbirth with quicker expelling of the placenta and reduction of post-partum bleeding risk,’’ she said.

    Mrs Priscilia Odi, Health Educator in the state’s Ministry of Health, urged the participants to prioritise the issues of child survival, development, protection and participation in their respective communities.

    She said that special attention should be paid to immunisation and exclusive breastfeeding among others.

    The traditional ruler of Amagu Autonomous Community of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Chief Fidelis Nwonumara, urged traditional rulers and town union leaders to ensure that issues of family health were integrated into their community meetings to save lives.

    Mrs Emilia Ineh, a participant, noted that she would implement all she learnt at the programme to improve the health status and condition of her family.

    “I learnt that breast milk contains an ideal balance of nutrients which infants can easily digest along with digestible enzymes that contain substances essential for the child’s optimal development,’’ she said.

  • NOA, Amnesty office partner to promote agri-business in Niger Delta

    NOA, Amnesty office partner to promote agri-business in Niger Delta

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Amnesty Office in the Presidency have entered into a strategic partnership to promote agriculture and allied businesses among former militants in the Niger Delta region.

    The NOA Director General, Dr Garba Abari, and the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, retired Brig.–Gen. Paul Boroh, formalised the partnership at a meeting in Abuja.

    Abari said that the partnership was aimed at developing the new Federal Government policy of strategic engagement with the leaders and people of the region.

    He said that the project would result in increased federal revenue as well as ensure peace in the region.

    He encouraged the Amnesty Office to sustain its work in the region in order to achieve the Federal Government’s developmental goals in the region.

    According to him, the Amnesty Office must ensure the inclusion of youths in the region’s development plan for sustainability.

    “I encourage you to ensure the social inclusion of youths in the region because they have the advantage of age, strength, education and population.

    “About 67 per cent of our population is below the age of 35 years and every effort must be made to factor the youth into the national development policy.

    “NOA is willing to partner in the task of creating awareness on agriculture in the region because it has began a programme of promoting the “Eat What You Grow and Grow What You Eat” campaign,’’ Abari said.

    Earlier, Boroh said the Amnesty Office was focusing attention on the agricultural potential of the region.

    According to him, the partnership with NOA is designed to make agriculture an occupation of choice for the people of the area.

    He said that the Amnesty office would initiate other partnerships with other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and NNPC, among others.

  • CSM: Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno intensify surveillance, say no case recorded yet

    Chairman, Bauchi State Healthcare Development Agency, Mr Adamu Gamawa said although there were no cases of Cerebro-Spinal Meningits (CMS) in the state, surveillance had been intensified across all the 20 Local Government Areas.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Wednesday that all relevant vaccines were available to tackle any case that might be recorded.

    “The state has no single case so far but we have intensified surveillance and have procured, all vaccines needed to t the menace in case we record any in future,” he said.

    He called on members of the public to ensure proper and adequate ventilation, imbibe the habit of hand washing, as well as maintain personnal and environmental hygiene.

    Similarly, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Bauchi state, has embarked on sensitization of communities against the disease, Director of the agency in the state, Malam Nuru Kobi, said on Tuesday.

    “There is need for community leaders to be on their toes, sensitizing members of the public on CMS, especially the need to ensure adequate ventilation.

    “People should stop spitting any how without burying it with sand because the disease can be contacted as well,” he said.

    Also in Adamawa, Dr. Bapatel Pariya, Director, Public Health, State  Ministry of Health, told NAN that so far, no case had been recorded in the state.
    Pariya said that initially, there were eight suspected cases but were confirmed to be negative after laboratory test at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

    On the prevention, control and management measures, he said presently, there were over 21 Quick Response teams stationed across the 21 local government areas of the state, in case of any outbreak.

    On its part, Borno State Government said it had set aside, 200,000 doses of vaccine for treatment of CSM in case of any outbreak during the hot season.
    State Commissioner for Health, Dr Harana Mishelia, told newsmen in Maiduguri that residents had been already been immunized for protection against disease.

    “From 2012 to 2014, the whole state was covered with a special type of meningitis vaccine which effect lasts for 10yrs.

    “However, we have over 200,000 doses in our stores to respond to any outbreak; the doses will serve as a fall-back should there be pockets of cases ” he said.
     

  • NOA urges Nigerians to embrace anti-corruption fight, patronise local goods

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to embrace the anti-corruption campaign of the present administration and patronise local goods, to salvage the nation’s economy.

    The NOA Director-General, Dr Garba Abari, said this while launching the agency’s nationwide Local Government Assembly at the Palace of the Esu Karu in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
    Abari identified the need for citizens to establish a link between the causes of corruption and its effects.
    He attributed the lack of basic amenities in the country to corruption, and therefore, urged every Nigerian who had credible information about corrupt individuals to blow the whistle, assuring such informant of government’s protection.
    He also advised Nigerians at the grassroots to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain factual information on government budgets at all levels.
    “Without monitoring budget implementation and raising objections when budgetary provisions are misappropriated, no one will know what government is doing to assist the citizens,’’ Abari said.
    In his speech, the Esu Karu, Mr Luka Panya, harped on the need for Nigerians to return to the traditional values for which Nigerian communities were known.
    Panya listed these values to include integrity in service, respect for constituted authority, dignity of labour and good neighbourliness.
    He said that these values, if adhered to, irrespective of whether one was at home, in his place of nativity or away, would significantly curtail the security and corruption challenges in the country.
    Similarly, the Chairman, Karu Local Government, Hon. Bin-Allah Vandavu, advised Nigerians to embrace agriculture and shun the tendency to embrace foreign foods.
    He added that the craze for foreign goods encouraged corrupt practices and undermined local production.
    Meanwhile, at the interactive sessions on government initiatives and topical national challenges, a cross-section of Nigerians stressed the need to end the menace of herdsmen/farmers clashes in the interest of food and human security.
    They also urged traditional, religious and academic institutions to exercise greater caution in the award of titles, to avoid promoting corrupt persons and by extension, corruption.
    The News Agency Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NOA Local Government Assembly is designed to sensitise citizens in the rural areas on government activities, policies and programmes to elicit citizens’ buy-in.
    It is specifically targeted in the two key areas of security awareness and combating corruption.
    The assembly attracted traditional and religious leaders, youth and women groups, NGOs, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.