The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NOA

  • NOA to inaugurate 3,000 WAI Brigade today

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) will soon inaugurate over 3,000 volunteers as members of the “Community Support Brigade”, formerly known as WAI Brigade to maintain peace and security across the country.

    Its Director-General Mr. Mike Omeri said the change of name is imperative because the agency plans to reposition for better service delivery.

    He said the inauguration will be performed today at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja.

    Omeri said: “The new Community Support Brigade will persuasively enforce respect for national symbols and good behavior in both public and private life.”

     

  • NOA woos critics of National ID project

    Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has expressed the readiness of his agency to partner with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to provide a comprehensive national database in the country.

    In a statement, the Director, Corporate Communication, Anthony Okwudiafor, said Omeri told the NIMC Director-General, Chris Onyemenam, during a visit that critics would soon appreciate the project’s importance.

    Omeri said it was time to bring together the data gathering agencies. He said while NIMC collects information, NOA gathers data to serve the agencie, noting that they are partners in progress.

    He urged the NIMC to enlist the NOA among its stakeholders, because it is working hard with the United States’ Department of Contact Centre and other agencies to have a central data system, and that NIMC has the mandate to harmonise databases to publicise government’s policies and programmes.

    “What you are doing will, no doubt, eliminate and streamline the activities of identity requiring and data collection agencies that seemed to be doing what we really need to do one-off for the interest of the nation and for those who kick against what you are doing are ignorant of the importance of Identity Management in a nation’s building and national security.

    “The National Identity Management System (NIMS) is the best thing that will happen to Nigeria in these critical times of security challenges. It will help the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and social vices in the country,” he stated.

    Earlier, Onyemenam reminded the NOA chief that the Commission’s main reason for reaching out to NOA was based on the commission’s belief that the agency has the competence to reach out to Nigerians to support the NIMS project

    “The ability to make reference to the database upon which the card was issued is the way out,”he said, adding that the Commission has been working on the identity infrastructure and was able to begin the pilot scheme on February 23.

    He said it is issuing the National Identification Number (NIN) in over 30 states hoping that as soon as the project is launched, NIMC will cover the 774 local government areas.

     

  • NOA 2-Day Zonal Forum on Security and Peace building in Nigeria

    NOA 2-Day Zonal Forum on Security and Peace building in Nigeria

  • NOA flags off campus campaign

    NOA flags off campus campaign

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off the Do the right thing, a campus-focus and student re-orientation for students of University of Calabar with a lecture titled Nigeria Tertiary Institution of Learning, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Implication for National Transformation.

    Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. James Epoke lauded the agency for the programme adding that doing the right thing to transform Nigeria as the slogan of the body says begins with an individual and building a nation full of hope.

    He advised the students to love their country and always ask what they can do for their country and not what their country can do for them. He advised them to shun all social vices that can jeopardize their study.

    Prof. Epoke charged the government to provide the amenities that can enhance learning in the tertiary institutions to enable them function efficiently and effectively and to enable them be patriotic.

    In his welcome address, Mike Omeri, Director General, NOA commended the large turnout of students and staffs at the programme and urged them to emulate the steadfastness and tenacity of the legal luminary whose contributions had impacted positively on the society.

    Presenting her Keynote address on Nigeria Tertiary Institution of learning, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; Implications for National Transformation, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili said that Nigeria institutions have demonstrated its belief that once there is strong research and development system, the nation’s economy will also be strong because of its conviction that research and innovation are key drivers for economic growth.

    “For the economy to grow, a nation must invest in research and innovation at the tertiary institutions” Ezekwesili stated

    Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan of the department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna state in his presentation on “The Imperative of industrial harmony and Academic Excellence in a Productive Educational System” said that the challenge facing the Nigerian educational sector include incessant industrial dispute, brain drain, poor financing of quality education, cultism, corrupt practices and abuse of trust.

    He noted that academic excellence cannot be achieved without improving funding and quality of education in the country adding that promoting visionary and disciplined leadership in the educational system is the key to conducive environment for learning devoid of corrupt practices and indiscipline.

    Prof Ladan charged the federal government to increase annual budget allocation to education from 8.4% ( 2012) or 8.7% (2013) to at least the UNESCO minimum benchmark of 26% or Africa best practice on investment in education ( Ghana’s 31% in 2012, better utilization of funds, tracking and monitoring of the use of the resources for education by multi stakeholders forum and lastly reduce the monthly or annual take home pay of all political officer holders to the 0.5million  package of a professor as a way of showing their patriotism and commitment to academic excellence and industrial harmony for the betterment of all.

    Other Keynote speakers include Prof. Femi Odekunle, Professor of Criminology and Anti Corruption crusader, who spoke on the Dimensions and Implication of Moral Decadence in Nigeria tertiary institution of learning, Ene Ede, Principal, Equity Advocate Abuja,  the role of tertiary institution of learning as a veritable resources  base for nation transformation, Comrade Jude Imagwe, Senior Special Assistant to the President Youth and students matters who spoke on the challenges of value reorientation in Nigeria tertiary education system and Emeka Eluem Izeze, the Managing Director and  Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspaper.

    The event featured a drama presentation and cultural dances by the university performing company.