CURRENT REPORT BLOG The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Onilu, has unveiled ambitious plans to integrate nationalism as a mandatory subject within Nigeria’s education curriculum. This initiative aims to instill essential ethics and values among future generations, fostering a sense of national identity and pride.
During a visit to the Niger State directorate of the agency in Minna, Onilu underscored the significance of incorporating nationalism across all levels of education, from primary to tertiary institutions. He emphasized that this strategic move is pivotal in cultivating a strong sense of patriotism and civic responsibility among Nigerian youth.
Expressing concerns over the pervasive influence of foreign cultures on the nation’s youth, Onilu highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue starting from the grassroots level. He stressed the need for proactive measures to counteract the erosion of traditional values and promote a deeper appreciation for Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
In a conversation with journalists, Onilu reiterated the critical role of education in shaping societal values and fostering unity within diverse communities.
He Lamented against the overexposure of children to foreign content through cartoons, saying:
“Soon, our agency will soon call for entries from professionals to produce cartoons that promote the local values of our people. Also, in no distant future, NOA will launch a mobile app containing indigenous cartoons, as well as those promoting local content, national values, and cultural heritage.”
“Foreign culture has impacted negatively on the ethics and values of indigenous cultures.
“The effort being made now is to change the narrative of how Nigerians are being negatively portrayed across the world,” he maintained.
Onilu further elaborated that they had opted to consolidate all their endeavors under the abbreviation CLHEEAN, which stands for Criminality, Lawlessness, Health, Education, and Environment, in order to eradicate negative behaviors from society.
He also mentioned that the agency plans to implement 37,000 citizen brigades nationwide, spanning across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the aim of instilling moral and national values at the primary school level.
