A civil society group known as Societal Safety Network SSN has charged Federal Government to adequately empower the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to engage and sensitise citizens on the need to always dress decently as well as shun various vices prevalent in today’s society.
Members of the group positioned themselves at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, Friday as they held up placards with inscriptions like ” indecent dressing and immoral behavior leads to infestation “, Protect Your Dignity by Upholding Strong Moral Tenets”, ” Make our Society Safe by Promoting Decent Dressing and Modest Behavior “, ” Yahoo Yahoo is an inhumane Act”, “When Legal Deeds Conflict with Morality, Morality Should be Allowed to Prevail”.
Executive Director of SSN, Ambassador Abdulrahman Agboola who made the appeal during its campaign against moral decadence also lamented the high rate of indecent dressing among individuals especially in the campuses today.
He said “Rate of indecent dressing and drugs is a source of worry for advocacy groups who want nigerians and and govt to put in place rules to curb the menace. In nigeria many see this as unacceptable. Because it doesnt conform with nigerian society
According to him “such form of dressing could sometimes expose the individual to various forms of attack such as rape especially among the female folks.
SSN executive director added that “one element that ultimately guarantees personal safety is consciousness and the lack of it is an invitation to danger.
“Today I appeal to the government to empower NOA to enable them engage more youths on a regular basis on the need to appear modest at all times as well as stay away from illicit drugs, fraud and every form of violence, he added.
In his remarks Director General of the National Orientation Agency Dr Garba Abari who was represented by Barister Kelechi Ogbedeagu said the event was timely as the need to engage youths on these subject matter cannot be over emphasised.
He said, “what you people are doing here today is complimenting one of the core programs of the NOA under the auspices of attitudinal change, no parents will be happy to see their child go about naked or an individual see a fellow colleague dress provocatively to the office.
He continued “We will continue to enlighten people so they can shun these attitude”.
Some participants at the event higlighted the numerous advantages of raising modest people in today’s world.
For Suleiman Abubakar, he stressed the need for godly parenting, he explained that whatever kind of children raised by these parents is what the society will get in return.
Mrs Naomi Okubanjo noted that as long as the family remains the first form of socialisation for a child the need for proper parents tongue cannot be overemphasised. She therefore called on parents to keep track of the activities of there wards in other to produce well meaning citizens.
Highlights of the event include official opening of unveiling of SSN, speech by leaders and representatives of National Association of Nigeria (NANS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and other civil society groups that are concern of societal safety.
