The Director of National Orientation Agency in Rivers State, Barrister Young Ayotamuno, has said that the agency has used different means to inform people about government policies, programmes and activities to let them have benefits which government policies, programmes and activities provide.
The director of the agency stated this in his keynote address at a one-day sensitization programme on “Communicating Government Policies, Programmes and Activities” which was held at Ogale-Nchia, headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.
Barrister Ayotamuno said: “Undoubtedly, the National Orientation Agency has deployed several communication platforms to reach various segments of society with messages on government policies, programmes and activities. There are several policies and programmes being deployed by the present administration at the federal and state levels, which hold benefits for citizens”.
He said that the expected outcome of the programme was to see “enlightened citizens” in the grassroots and promote consciousness about the roles citizens in the country are expected to play to make Nigeria great.
He said the programme was also expected to reduce drug abuse and related offences among citizens particularly the youths to bring about moderation in their lifestyles.
Ayotamuno said that the method for the sensitization programmme was participatory and interactive saying that it was the agency’s mandate to communicate government policies, programmes and activities and get feedback from people back to government for better policies and programmes.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Barrister Philip Okparaji, said that it was important to pass on information to people about government policies, programmes and activies and assured that the local government would continue to partner with government agencies to enable them achieve set objectives.
The Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officer of National Orientation Agency in Eleme Local Government Area, Mrs Charity Godchild-Lene, in her welcome address said that participants at the programme would be more informed about government policies, programmes and activities at the end of the programme.
There was an interactive session at the programme and goodwill messages were delivered by representatives from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police and National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office.
