By : Ayomikun Oluwatimileyin Inawole

University of Ilorin, (Unilorin) on Thursday (28th November, 2024) emerged as the North-Central champion of the 7 for 7 National Values Charter Campus Debate.

The debate and capacity-building conference, tagged Join the Value Train to Campus, was organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to ignite a passion for national values among Nigeria’s brightest minds.

According to the Programme Coordinator- Tolu Meduna, who represented the Director General, NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, noted that it was important for youths to be properly engaged and re-oriented about the national values to be a true Nigerian.

“The youths are the largest in Nigeria so it imperative that we engage them and we all know this dispensation is all about the youth and they are our future and we have to keep engaging them until we bring them to the table of discuss and when they can bring us their fresh ideas and we can build the nation together this purpose is to build Nigerians that can do that.” says Programme Coordinator- Medina.

The contestants spoke on the topic “striking the balance between government promises and citizens responsibility in nation building”, challenged the participants to examine the relationship between governance and civic duties; serving as a call to action for Nigerians to embrace their roles as custodian of national values and to take responsibility in shaping our nation.

The Director, NOA, Kwara State, Alhaji DARE ABDULGANIYU, in his reaction added that the programme is much needed in Nigeria due to the current level of prevailing vices in the society.

In his words: “The activities we are under going now has a lot of progress and development for the Country because if you look back on memory lane you will realise that a lot of social vices, insecurity and maladies has rocked the peace and development of the nation.

The DG Lanre Issa-Onilu conducted serious research with some scholars and research fellows to discover that we just need to retrace our tradition and customs so that we would have the attitude of change generally as Nigerians and for us to be able to develop Nigerian we must develop Nigerians and this is part of the activities we are doing for the students so that we make them realize the cultural norms and value of the society.”

Meanwhile, in the north central region, students of Kwara State polytechnic Ilorin competed against Unilorin and lost, ending with N2million naira while the winner from the zone left with N5million naira and qualified for the national finale.

Participants also received a Citizens Values Brigade certificate for participating in the conference.

Edited by Joseph Emeribe