During a Town Hall Meeting in Lokoja, Mall. Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), announced that Citizenship studies will be implemented as mandatory subjects at all levels of Education across Nigeria. This was revealed during his 2-day visit to Kogi State, where stakeholders were present to discuss the upcoming changes. Issa-Onilu stressed the importance of engaging with stakeholders regarding Government Policies, Programmes, and Activities in accordance with the directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to NOA.
He emphasised the importance of integrating citizenship education into Nigeria’s educational Curriculum to instil proper values and morals in every child. There are plans to implement it across all levels, including primary, secondary, and tertiary, making it a mandatory subject for the children to study. By instilling the correct values and character traits in them, they will become exemplary Nigerians who bring honour to their country wherever they may travel. Instilling proper values in children is essential for ensuring their positive contribution to society and the nation as a whole in the future.
Children will be educated on Nigeria’s history, its heroes and others.
Therefore, he explained that they are launching 37,000 Citizenship Brigades this year, with 1,000 in each state for primary and secondary schools. The director general of NOA also mentioned that the government was developing a plan to prioritise Nigerian values in cartoons, aiming for at least 70% of content to be focused on this. The goal is to educate children on the history of Nigeria, its heroes, achievements, cultures, and values through cartoons. Teaching children about prominent figures is important in their communities, and it is important to instil pride in their cultural heritage. Issa-Onilu also mentioned the agency’s involvement in developing the National Values Charter to document the country’s core principles officially.
The Values Charter was deemed unoriginal by him, as he pointed out that all communities and ethnic groups have deep-rooted values. However, he expressed disappointment that Nigeria has not established a solid value system. The Director General of NOA stressed the importance of maintaining values and ensuring they are upheld, respected, and encouraged by the citizens. He expressed disappointment that there is still no clear definition of what it means to be a Nigerian in terms of values and behaviour. According to the DG, a true Nigerian is not involved in criminal activities like Kidnapping or banditry, nor do they hold government positions only to steal from the people.
Stakeholders must unite and cooperate to enhance national values.
Instead, a true Nigerian serves as a governor and works to improve the state by providing infrastructure, generating employment opportunities, and fostering Peace and stability. A good Nigerian is someone who embodies the ideals of promoting prosperity, fostering unity, and avoiding nepotism when in a position of power, like the President. He emphasised the importance of stakeholders uniting and cooperating to enhance their national values. He highlighted that the agency had gathered comprehensive data on union and association leaders nationwide to rally support for government initiatives effectively. The director general praised the stakeholders for their consistent support and reliability in collaborating with NOA to progress Nigeria.
At the meeting, Mr. Patrick Edogbanya, the Acting State Director of NOA in Kogi, highlighted the importance of engaging with various stakeholders to address the nation’s ongoing challenges. The participants, ranging from religious and traditional leaders to Civil Society groups, media outlets, and retired NOA directors, provided a diverse perspective on finding sustainable solutions. Edogbanya observed that the Director-General had brought forth fresh and creative concepts that could potentially shift Nigerians’ mindset towards self-assurance and a bolstered belief in Nigeria as a sovereign nation with unwavering ethical principles.
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Lastly, the Kogi NOA directorate commended the DG for his innovative projects, such as the establishment of the NOA news studio, the development of the NOA Social Media App, the introduction of Mobiliser, the publication of a monthly newsletter called the Explainer, and the creation of the National Value Chatter, among others, announced the spokesperson. Various stakeholders have suggested to the NOA that they should advocate for the Federal Government to lower Petroleum pump prices, bring back Religious studies as a compulsory subject at all educational levels, and address other pressing issues without delay.