NOA urges youths to shun violence for nation’s development

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Anambra has advised youths to shun all forms of violence and embrace peace to drive growth and development in the country.

The state Director of the agency, Mr Joseph Uchendu, made the call on Wednesday at a news conference in Awka, tagged, “Building a people of peace”.

Uchendu also urged politicians to cherish and value peace.

According to him, peace is one of the core values in the nation’s motto: “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.

He said that the advocacy became  necessary, following social conflicts arising from the just-concluded general elections.

He said: “Violence and violent processes snowball into social unrest, which does no one any good.

“Yes, conflicts can exist as a result of injustice, but the way you manage and resolve them is what matters.

“No matter the level of provocation, it is always better to resolve through peaceful processes.

“As an agency, one of our mandates is to ensure attitudinal change.

“We cannot just fold our arms and watch crisis linger in society.

Uchendu said that the campaign was designed to remind Nigerians that peace and utilisation of peaceful processes should guide all their actions in conflict resolutions.

He called on parents and guardians to prioritise the task of bringing up their children and wards in the right manner.

“Parents and other stakeholders have critical roles to play in the upbringing and molding of our children and youths.

“The youths cannot be undermined.

“Statistics have it that youths form over 70 per cent of the nation’s population.

“If the youths are not nurtured to channel their energy properly, they will become tools in the hands of perpetrators of violence.

The state NOA boss, therefore, encouraged the youths to continue to adopt dialogue, peace and peaceful processes.

(NAN)