…………seeking to entrench value orientation.
FIC Report (Abia State) – The Director General National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu says the Agency is committed towards communicating government policies and programs as well as promoting values that will ensure peace, orderliness and moral conduct in the country.
Mallam Issa-Onilu stated this in a message on the ongoing Nation-wide Sensitization on National Anthem and National Values charter in the capital of Abia state, Umuahia.
“The act that established the Agency makes it clear what our mandate are including communicating government policies, programmes and activities; mobilising support for them and processing feedback to government on these policies. it also mandate us to promote democracy as best model of government and promote values that will ensure peace, orderliness and moral conduct. over the years, especially in the last one year, we have pursued these mandates with extra vigour.”
The DG represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Mass mobilization in the Agency, Mrs Theresa Maduekwe noted that Federal Executive Council has approved that the first stanza of the National Anthem be rendered at all official functions while the three stanzas should be for special occasions like Independence Day, Democracy Day inauguration of National Assembly, Children’s Day, Armed forces Remembrance Day and Workers Day.
“Restoration of the dignity and standardization of national Symbols such as the National Flag, Anthem, Pledge and the Coat of Arm. under this, the Council approved.”
In his own words stated that they should “vigorously promote these symbols to ensure that they are accorded respect, properly displayed and handled including the hoisting of national flag in public building, in order to build up love for country, strong national identity, unity and pride.”
He stated that the third stanza of the National Anthem have been adopted as National prayers during National events.
“It also approved the teaching of the national values charter to be made mandatory component of pre-resumption retreat for the federal Executive council members, the national Assembly members, the judiciary and other government appointees.”
Mallam Issa-Onilu also said that as part of efforts in combating corruption in the country, federal government has changed the War Against Indiscipline brigade to Citizens Value Brigade.
He explained that government has equally made Citizenship study a compulsory component of the educational system from primary to secondary level of education.
“This will help to raise model citizens among Nigerian children as ambassadors of values. creating role models is one of the sustainability strategies of the National identity Project of the Renewed hope programme of the Present government.”
“Citizenship study to be made compulsory component of our educational system from primary to secondary levels of education. further directing the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Education Research Development Council and other relevant government institutions and stakeholders to with NOA to develop a curriculum for citizenship education.
According to Mallam Issa-Onilu, NOA, as the custodian of national symbols, was approved to be the source of all official symbols to ensure standardization, he added.”
He noted that September 16 was approved to be observed as National Symbols Enlightenment Day, while citizenship studies are to be made a compulsory component of the Nigerian educational system from primary to secondary school levels.
The NOA DG pointed out that value Orientation should be made compulsory component of the one year mandatory National Youth service Corps with the Agency working to inculcate National values on fresh graduates of higher institutions of learning.
The agency urged Nigerians to key into various Federal Government economic transformation and social intervention programs, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration removed fuel subsidies to redirect funds toward more sustainable economic initiatives, adding that the previous administration before Tinubu did not budget for subsidies in 2023.
Some of the intervention programs, according to the NOA DG, include the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, Student Loan Scheme, Special Purpose Vehicle, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiatives, Agricultural and Food Security Initiatives, among others.
Also speaking, the Abia State Director of NOA, Mrs Regina Iroha, said that her agency is embarking on mass sensitization of Abia residents on the policies and programs of the Federal Government and the need to embrace them, as well as the importance of sustaining peace and unity in the country.
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC, Umuahia, Abia State.
