NOA, CSO Partner to Deepen Youth Democratic Education in Ondo
Admin 8th October,2025
In a bid to promote democratic values and leadership among young Nigerians, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ondo State Directorate, has partnered with the Nigeria Civil Society Organizations Strategy Group on SDGs to institutionalize youth-focused civic education through the Children and Youth Democratic Electoral Model (CYDEM).
The collaboration was formalized during an advocacy visit by the CSO group to the NOA office in Akure. Led by the State Coordinator, Activist Temilola Odetola, the team presented CYDEM as a practical initiative designed to teach schoolchildren about democratic norms by simulating real-life electoral processes within schools.
Odetola explained that the program, established in 2009, conducts school elections endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allowing students to elect their prefects through transparent and merit-based processes. The goal, she said, is to instill a culture of accountability, respect for authority, and civic participation from an early age.
“Rather than school authorities appointing prefects, students nominate and vote for their leaders based on merit and leadership qualities. Positions such as Head Boy and Head Girl are earned through democratic participation,” she noted.
In his remarks, the NOA State Director, Mr. James Adekunle, praised the initiative and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting youth-focused democratic education. He highlighted that the soon-to-be-launched National Value Charter offers an opportunity for deeper collaboration, particularly through NOA’s Citizens Brigade programme aimed at fostering patriotism and leadership among youths.
As part of the engagement, NOA presented the CSO group with educational materials and copies of the National Value Charter Project booklet to support their ongoing activities.
