By Tobi Adisa

The Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Olukemi Afolayan, has commended Oyo State Governor Engr Oluseyi Makinde for his insightfulness in creating a Mobilisation Agency in the State to compliment NOA’s work in Oyo State.

This was contained in her welcoming address during the courtesy visit of OYMASED to her office led by the Director General, Dr. Morounkola Thomas. It also marked the premier meeting between the two agencies since the creation in June.

The Oyo State Director of NOA, Dr. Olukemi Afolayan in her message  expressed her excitement with the newly formed state agency and how the NOA is ever ready to partner with OYMASED.

Dr Afolayan commended the team for hitting the ground running on their continued efforts to liase and work with other agencies. She particularly appreciated Gov Seyi Makinde for the laudable initiative of setting up the agency as mobilization and sensitization of citizens cannot be left alone for the NOA.

Her words “We are happy and delighted that Gov Seyi Makinde have decided to create this agency to further sensitize our people, and also work together as partners. The decadence in the society is nothing to write home about, even from the parents down to the children, and like I keep reiterating that the task of value orientation and attitudinal reorientation is so enormous that NOA alone cannot do it.”

Dr Afolayan in her comments advised OYMASED to extend their outreach to the primary schools, where she explained that NOA had already established 67 Integrity Clubs in several Secondary Schools across Oyo State. She emphasized that even primary school pupils are also into drugs.

Dr Afolayan also highlighted NOA ongoing partnerships with over 90 groups and government agencies including FRCN and NDLEA, with emphasis on the outreach through the local government structures which have overseen even greater productivity with the mandate.

She concluded her address by appreciating OYMASED for deeming the NOA worthy of recognition with the courtesy visit while reiterating their readiness to work and partner with OMASED whenever the time arises.

In his remark, Dr. Morounkola Thomas described OYMASED as an agency set up to compliment and further extend the effort of the NOA in Oyo State. He explained that their core responsibilities include mobilizing the state citizens to be patriotic and also to feed them with necessary information to also uplift them from poverty.

Dr Thomas also identified key areas where citizens need further sensitizations like use of traffic lights, trading on the streets, environmental sanitation, promoting core values, fights against drug abuse amongst others.