NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY BUILDING A PEACEFUL UNITED NIGERIA THROUGH SCHOOLS DEBATE COMPETITION

NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY BUILDING A PEACEFUL UNITED NIGERIA THROUGH SCHOOLS DEBATE COMPETITION

David Maduako –Umuahia

National Orientation Agency South East Zone have concluded her inter Schools zonal debate competition which took place recently at Jack Building Ogurube Layout Umuahia.

Five schools participated in the debate competition with School of Nursing and Midwifery Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Ebonyi State emerging the overall winner for the South East zone .

Speaking at the end of the competition , the South East Zonal Director of the Agency Lady Regina Iroha said part of the mandate of National Orientation Agency NOA is to build a peaceful and conducive society for all to live in . She noted that the future lies on the hands of the young ones and that is why the Agency is targeting the youths to instill into them positive values that will promote national consciousness and patriotism. This she said was one of the essence of the debate competition.

Lady Iroha expressed satisfaction at the performance of the students , saying the winner of the competition stand the chance of winning at the national level which will take place at Abuja .

Contributing , the Director in charge of National Orientation Agency Abia state Directorate Comrade Victor Orji said one of the reasons behind the school debate competition is to make the youths of this nation to know that we are one in this country called Nigeria , we are one Nigeria. Speaking further Comrade Orji noted that destiny have brought Nigerians together and despite the fact that there are scores of agitations , Nigerians still belong to Nigeria. He said people should know how to interact with each other for the sake of unity using the diversify of the country as a source of strength and not a source of weakness. We are engaging the youths to know how we can be United and tolerate one another . We want to catch them young to know how our values can be restored because our values have been eroded , so we are trying to reorientate ourselves and understand that we are one , he stated.

He used the occassion to call on students to avail themselves of the services of National Educational Fund NELFUND to apply for funds saying that each successful candidate receives #20,000 every month . He observed that NELFUND is real and the South East is not benefitting due to aparty . He equally called on Abians to endeavour to participate in the on going voters registration voters and birth registration saying the importance of both exercise can not be over emphasized census figures of the South East .
End .