By Collins Godwin 

In a time when youth engagement and national values are increasingly under pressure from digital distractions, socio-economic uncertainty, and moral ambiguity, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edo State, made a powerful statement by taking its civic education campaign to Wellspring University, a private tertiary institution in Benin City.

This symbolic outreach, held on the serene campus of the university, marked a deepening of the agency’s drive to ensure that no segment of the student population is left behind in the collective push for national reawakening.

The outreach, themed around “Youth Empowerment Through National Values,” was part of NOA’s continuous mission to instill patriotism, responsible citizenship, and resilience in Nigerian youth. 

It came at a crucial time when private universities, often seen as islands of privilege and academic excellence, are equally grappling with the pervasive social ills affecting Nigerian youth — including drug abuse, moral erosion, and a rising appetite for shortcuts to success.

Despite a rescheduled start due to student assessments, the NOA team used the early hours of their arrival to bond, prepare, and strategize. This small adjustment turned into an opportunity for reflective connection with the university’s atmosphere and mission. It was a reminder that patience and flexibility are virtues in the agency’s toolbox for civic engagement.

Leading the delegation was Mr. Rawlings, Head of the Mobilization Unit, accompanied by Mr. Vincent, Deputy Director of Programmes; Mrs. Angela Odili, Deputy Director of NOA Egor Formation; and the ever-charismatic Mrs. Sylvia Okunseri, whose presence added a blend of grace and substance to the outing.

The trio of topics delivered during the event — drug abuse, national values, and the get-rich-quick syndrome — were not just lectures. They were deliberate attempts to confront the triple threats facing today’s Nigerian students.

The speakers wove stories, statistics, and lived realities to create a compelling narrative that resonated with their youthful audience.

Rawlings’ presentation on drug abuse painted a sobering picture of addiction among Nigerian youth. Citing figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he reminded students that over 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15–64 had used drugs in 2020, with cannabis and opioids being the most commonly abused. 

He connected this data to a growing mental health crisis and the breakdown of social values. “When you lose your body to drugs, you lose your purpose,” he told the students.

Mr. Vincent, speaking on national orientation, drilled into the forgotten core values — integrity, discipline, and patriotism — that once formed the bedrock of Nigeria’s civic culture.

He challenged students to reimagine leadership as service rather than power, and to consider their role not just as scholars, but as change agents. 

“The anthem you sing must reflect the actions you take daily,” he said, referencing the symbolic moment when students sang the national anthem in unison, each clutching a pamphlet handed out by NOA.

Mrs. Angela Odili took the conversation deeper by addressing the get-rich-quick syndrome. Her talk was laced with relatable anecdotes and cautionary tales of young people lured into internet fraud, ritualism, and criminality in search of fast wealth. 

She urged the students to value long-term goals, education, and hard work, and reminded them that “wealth without wisdom leads to destruction.”

The interactive session that followed was a highlight, giving students the space to ask questions, share personal insights, and reflect on the discussions. 

A few admitted their surprise at how engaging and honest the presentations were. “We often think government officials just lecture and leave, but today we felt the difference, ” said Blessing Okoh, a third-year student of International Relations. “They came to talk to us, not at us.”

Another student, John Ighodalo, noted that the session inspired him to think more critically about his future. “My takeaway today is that no success is worth losing your values for,” he said. “We must be vigilant and intentional.”

Wellspring University’s vice chancellor, represented by the Dean of Student Affairs, expressed gratitude for the outreach and described the event as “a vital partnership between the government and the youth it seeks to guide

He promised more open doors for NOA and other national agencies willing to engage students on critical issues.

In her remarks, Mrs. Sylvia Okunseri reminded students that nation-building is not the duty of government alone but a shared responsibility. “This is your country. How you shape your future shapes Nigeria,” she said.

The outreach did not end with speeches. In a deliberate attempt to foster patriotism and unity, students stood to sing the national anthem once more — this time with deeper understanding and emotional resonance. The sound echoed through the halls, punctuating the success of the event.

What made the event even more special was its inclusive nature. Private universities are often left out of government civic engagement drives, creating a gap in public service messaging. 

NOA’s deliberate effort to include Wellspring University sends a strong message: every Nigerian youth matters, regardless of the institution they attend.

It also underscores the urgency of value-based education at a time when the nation is battling disillusionment, youth restiveness, and social vices. 

From election apathy to rising emigration, there are indicators that Nigeria’s young people are in need of more meaningful engagement, not just political slogans.

The World Bank and National Bureau of Statistics have both warned about the implications of Nigeria’s high youth unemployment and disconnection from governance. 

According to the NBS, youth unemployment as of 2023 stood at 53.4%, a figure that experts say is a breeding ground for social instability and criminal tendencies.

NOA’s campaign at Wellspring becomes even more vital in this context. By reconnecting young people to national values and encouraging self-belief, the agency is building a social firewall against chaos. It is also helping students see themselves not just as victims of a failed system but as stewards of a better one.

The gesture also strengthens NOA’s legitimacy in Edo State. Under the leadership of its State Director and key mobilization officers, the agency is becoming a visible force in youth advocacy, civic education, and social cohesion. From rural schools to tertiary institutions, the agency is stepping up.

This outreach has set the tone for future engagements. It signals that education, when paired with civic dialogue, can restore lost values, renew purpose, and guide the next generation away from perilous shortcuts and toward sustainable impact.

In the coming months, NOA Edo has promised to extend this campaign to other campuses and develop student-led national value clubs that will embed civic consciousness within campus life.

For the students of Wellspring University, the event was more than a lecture. It was a reminder that no matter the odds, their voices matter, their choices matter, and most importantly — their values matter.