The Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, brought the message of attitudinal change and the national value charter to Ilorin’s youth during the 10th edition of a youth mentorship program on January 28, 2024, organized by the Office of the Representative of Kwara Central, Nigeria Youth Parliament, in collaboration with Touchbearers Impact Network.
Introduced as the ‘teacher’ of the day, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu shared insights into the significance of national symbols, particularly the national prayer, the second stanza of the national anthem, as a unifying force across religious backgrounds.
Encouraging the youth to step out of their comfort zones for personal growth, he emphasized that comfort zones extend beyond geographical locations to include the company one keeps, stressing the importance of intellectual conversations.
Acknowledging the neglect of Nigerian values in shaping the youth by government and parents, he outlined NOA’s initiatives, including creating local content with Nigerian values, introducing 37,000 citizens brigades, and making Nigerian citizenship studies compulsory in schools at all levels.
Addressing contemporary challenges like substance abuse, social media influence, and identity issues, the DG advised against running from mentorship, emphasizing the principle, “You must serve to be served. Don’t serve for money; concentrate on creating values that will generate money.”
