The need for youths to shun irregular migration and other social vices that are detrimental to the society has been again been stressed.
The Director General (D-G) of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, pointed out some of the social vices to includes cultism, examination malpractice, human trafficking, suicide, drugs and substance abuse during a one day attitudinal re-orientation programme for students in tertiary instution.
The programme orgainsed by National Orientation Agency, NOA in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the theme “Campus Focus” was held at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Dr. Abari, who was represented by the Director of the agency’s Delta State Directorate, Mr. Chris Uche Anyabuine, stated that the programme was designed to change the attitude of the youth and imbibe the nation’s core values in them because majority of the youths have been influenced negatively by peer groups.
Adding that there was need to sensitize and encourage the youths to shun all forms of social vices by imbibing desirable behaviours necessary for national development.
Abari enjoined the students to embrace the nation’s core values which includes discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, self-reliance, religious tolerance, social justice and patriotism in order to build a better future for themselves and the nation.
While soliciting for synergy with the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku to enable the agency achieve its mandate, the NOA D-G maintained that attitudinal change was needed so as to put the youth on the right track for development to strive in the country.
Earlier, in a courtesy call before the commencement of the event, the Rector, Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Stella Chiemeke thanked the agency for the opportunity to orgainsed the event in the institution and pledged to work in synergy with the agency in order to better the lots of the students.
Chiemeke, who was represented by the Deputy Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. L. U. Ojogbo, appealed to NOA to ensure the paticipation of more students in the next programme and charged the students to be diligent in their studies, adding that education was not a scam.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, the Traditional Ruler of Ubulu-Unor Kingdom, HRM. Obi Henry Kikachukwu noted that education was key for anyone who wants to be counted in life.
Obi Kikachukwu advised youths to shun cybercrime and other related vices.
The resources persons who spoke including representatives of International Organization for Migration, IOM, Mr. Elijah Ealigwu on irregular migration and trafficking in persons, National Agency For and Drugs Control, NAFDAC, Mr. Monday Olakpor, the State Chairman, Human Taskforce on Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration, Delta State Attorney General, Peter Mrakpor SAN, represented by Mrs. Ijeoma Nwanze, and Senior Lecturer Department of Arts and Humanities, Delta State Ogwashi-Uku, Reverend Cannon Ovie Ekpewu, who spoke on overview of social vices on campus emphasized on the alarming rates of cultism, irregular migration, examination malpractice, drugs and substance abuse as key factors that has bedevilled the society.
While advising youths to be watchful and report anyone who engaged in such act to the appropriate authority, the resource persons called on the youth to join in the sensitization to their fellow students.
The participants thanked the organizers for the programme and promised to put in to practice what they learnt.
The programme featured drama, cultural dance, paper presentation, presentation of souvenir, question and answer session.