The National Orientation Agency (NOA), traditional leaders, religious leaders, youths, opinion moulders, and others, on Thursday, called for national cohesion and unity to foster development in Nigeria.

The call was made during a one-day stakeholders’ town hall meeting organised by the Oyo State Directorate of NOA at its office in Agodi, Ibadan, with the theme “Pathway to National Cohesion, Development and Unity.”

The stakeholders also included representatives of sister agencies, community leaders, market leaders, youth leaders, National Youth Council, media partners, and others.

In her address, Mrs. Ajolayo Sinmiat Akande, the Oyo State Director of NOA, said the national engagement was imperative to address critical security and unity challenges, such as insurgency, banditry, extremism, youth restiveness, political thuggery, herder-farmer conflict, and secessionist agitation, through localised interventions.

”The betterment of our country, economic prosperity, peaceful coexistence, and strong social bonds all require our collective efforts. This gathering will, therefore, offer a roadmap to our national cohesion, development, and unity.

”In Oyo State here, particularly, we are beset with recurring challenges of political thuggery and herder-farmer clashes. This is not to say that we don’t have other issues,” she said.

Also speaking, the Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan, High Chief Taiye Ayorinde, stated that national unity and cohesion are key to attaining development.