The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on parents across the country to safeguard their family’s integrity by discouraging their children from acts capable of denting their image, particularly during sign-out celebrations in tertiary institutions.
The agency expressed worry over the increasing trend of students writing on female colleagues’ breasts and laps during sign-out ceremonies, describing the practice as a breach of Nigeria’s core national values.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo, Osun State, on Friday at the flag-off of the agency’s two-week nationwide civic engagement campaign, NOA’s Director of Human Resources, Ayisola Olowoyo, who represented the Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, warned youths against taking the celebrations to indecent levels.
“Let me say something briefly on sign-out activities. The exercise itself is a good one people are celebrating and congratulating friends but it is often taken to extremes. In some cases, students wear white and allow colleagues to write on inappropriate parts of the body such as the breasts and laps. This is against our national values,” Olowoyo said.
As part of measures to entrench discipline in public life, the NOA disclosed plans to unveil a National Values Charter, a policy document designed to promote discipline, integrity, honesty and responsibility among Nigerians.
“Once this charter is launched, we expect positive change. But beyond government efforts, parents must also take firm steps. Protect your family’s name. Teach your children how to conduct themselves honourably,” Olowoyo added.
The NOA’s campaign, according to him, is geared towards restoring ethical standards and civic responsibility as pillars of national development, with emphasis on the youth.
