A Joint Committee comprising the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Universities Commission and the Nigerian Media has been inaugurated in Abuja to spearhead the introduction of citizenship studies into the curriculum of Nigerian universities.
A statement by Bala Musa, Director, Communications and Media of NOA, says the committee was inaugurated by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu , who urged members of the committee to come up with a draft for subsequent consideration and incorporation into the curriculum.
Speaking on the initiative, Issa-Onilu described the Nigerian Identity Project (NIP), which consists of the National Value Charter(NVC), as a deliberate effort to restore Nigeria to its original foundation.
He said the National Identity Project as a national movement , is not built on slogans, but rather an action, a shared responsibility and a commitment to institutional transformation.
Issa-Onilu said at the heart of National Identity Project is the National Value Charter, which he described as a renewed social contract between Nigeria and its people, emphasizing that the charter is structured around two pillars – the Nigerian Promise, which outlines what every citizen deserves and the Citizen Codes, which define the values citizens are expected to exemplify.
According to him, the principles are not abstract, and hence, must be inculcated in young Nigerians, recalling that Citizenship Studies have already been fully incorporated into Nigeria’s primary and secondary school curricular.
The NOA Director General tasked the team to work diligently with a view to ensuring that Nigerian universities don’t only produce graduates, but also nurture citizens who will showcase the Nigerian identity with honour and dignity.
In her remarks, the leader of NUC team, Mrs Florence Uju Onuoha, expressed gratitude to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving this bold initiative of NOA to develop a curriculum for Citizenship Studies, saying the decision reflects deep commitment to nurture responsible citizens, foster national unity, strengthen democratic values and positively shape the character and future of the youth.
Onuoha assured the NOA’s Director-General that the joint committee would effectively discharge its responsibility in collaboration with academic experts who specialise in curriculum development.
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