Obiorah Anthony Ugwonwa
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State Directorate, Awka, has advocated total practice of a true democratic governance in Nigeria where youths would be given an opportunity to partake actively in building a better Nigeria.
This was the submission of the Anambra State Director of the Agency, Mr. Edozie Ajaegbu while playing a host to the Executive Director, Catch Them Young Community Initiative, Mr. Nonso Orakwe and his team that paid him an advocacy visit yesterday in his office at Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke Federal Secretariat Complex, Awka.
Ajaegbu, who acknowledged the activities of the association that is geared towards bettering the lots of greater percentage of Nigerian youths, pledged the support of NOA for the human oriented programmes of the group with a view to making their voice heard throughout the state through the foot soldiers of the Agency that exist in all the 21 local government areas of the the Anambra State.
Briefing the NOA State Director, Ajaegbu on the reason behind their advocacy visit, the Executive Director of the Group, Nonso Orakwe, described NOA as their home, having partnered with them in the implementation of their programmes over the years.
Orakwe, who spoke through the Programme Manager of the group, Israel Orji, explained that the group was established in 2020 with a clear vision of equipping active Nigerian youths with the burning desire to participate holistically in the political, leadership and electoral processes of the country.
He noted that the group is currently working on what he described as Youths Led Electoral Reform Project in Anambra State, hence the visit.
He recalled that a lot of Nigerian youths who eagerly participated wholeheartedly in the 2023 general elections are disappointed with the end products of the elections.
The Executive Director emphasized that the group in conjunction with the National Endowment For Democracy conducted online survey on the activities of the 2023 general elections in the country and found out that 50% of Nigerian youths were disappointed with the outcome of the elections, hence the 5 priority recommendations of the group for Nigerians.
According to him, the 5 priority recommendations of the group are; establishment of electoral offences commission, post election petition resolution, timely transmission of election results, proper selection of INEC Leadership to remove political influence and interpretation of permanent voters cards by the concerned authority.
Orakwe added that the reason behind their visit was that they understand vividly the enormity of the works that NOA undertakes, not only in Anambra State, but also in Nigeria at large.
He expressed the uncommon hope that they would leverage on the network of the Agency to educate the people extensively on the nation’s electoral processes and other things that they needed to know concerning the inherent dangers of illicit drugs and HIV/AIDS, among other social vices in the society.
The Deputy Director of Administration, NOA, Awka, Barrister Ifeoma Chijioke, commended the wonderful proposals of the group concerning catching youths young.
The Deputy Director encouraged the group to expedite action in talking to youths to refrain from consuming all forms of narcotics.
In conclusion, Barrister Chijioke, among other things, urged youths to join hands with the government to move the nation to a greater height as the future leaders of the country.
