By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, Oct. 16, 2024
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has embarked on nationwide sensitisation campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the new National Anthem and National Values Charter (NVC).
The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this at a press conference on sensitisation on National Anthem and National Values Charter Wednesday in Lokoja.
Issa-Onilu, who was represented by the Ag State Director of NOA, Mr Patrick Edogbanya, said the initiative was inline with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that “We Must Build Nigerians to Build Nigeria”.
He noted that the sensitisation campaign was being conducted nationwide aimed at reinforcing the significance of Nigerian’s national anthem and the national values charter.
According to him, the content of the new national anthem summarily preaches unity in diversity; though, we may have different languages, ethnicities, tribes and religion, it binds us together as one.
“We need to promote a national value system that will guide the behavior of both leaders and the citizens. Hence, the importance of value re-orientation cannot be over emphasized.
“The time has come to rebuild citizens sense of duty to the nation. We must build Nigerians to build Nigeria as rightly declared by our president, President Bola Tinubu.
“After this press conference, we will have town hall meeting tomorrow Thursday that will involve all the relevant stakeholders.
“We consider the media as very important stakeholders in information dissemination in internalizing the national anthem.
“I, therefore call on you to support this movement towards building a stronger and a more united Nigeria,” he said.
The NOA DG said the agency would establish citizen brigades in primary and secondary schools this year, starting 3700 members.
According to him, it will be 1000 per state and the FCT which will be fashioned after the Boys scouts and Girls brigade, where members will learn leadership and moral values.
“They will be raised as model citizens who embody the national identity.
“Millions of Nigerian children will join the brigade in a few years, causing a deliberate movement of value ambassadors, model citizens, and generation of new Nigerians.
He added that the federal government would nationalize cartoon content in the next three years, saying 70 per cent of the cartoon content must be about Nigerian values.
“We also facilitate the integration of Citizens studies into the educational curriculum of children and youths between the ages of 7 to 22 to develop informed, responsible and active citizens with genuine love for the country”.
In his Paper presentation on “Overview of the NCV”, the NOA Head of Program, Mr Mayowa Ogbonnikan, said the NVC is a social contract between the government and citizens.
He said the NVC was aimed to promote fundamental values that will guide Nigerians’ national lifestyles, foster national identity and ensure unity and national cohesion.
According to him, the NVC, has two components: the Nigerian Promise, and he Citizens Code or Commitment.
He added that the Nigerian Promise has 7 pillars upon which the Nigerian state shall be held accountable by its citizens at home and in the diaspora.
“The seven pillars include: Equality, Democracy, Entrepreneurship and Employment, Peace and Security, Inclusivity, Freedom and Justice, and Meritocracy.
“The Citizens code also has seven pillars which explains the fundamental values and obligations expected of citizens everywhere.
“The pillars include: Discipline, Duty to Care, Tolerance and Respect, Leadership, Transparency, Environmental Awareness, and Resilience,” Ogbonnikan said.
End