The federal government has directed the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Education Research Development Council and other relevant government institutions and stakeholders in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to develop a curriculum for citizenship education.
The director general of the National Orientation Agency, Isah Onilu, who disclosed this during a press conference in Makurdi tagged: “Launch of the National Values Charter and the National Anthem” said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved and made compulsory Citizenship Study for the educational system from primary to secondary levels in the country.
He said the council also approved the mandatory inclusion of the national values charter in the curriculum of schools at both the basic and post-basic levels and as a component of the pre-resumption retreat for the Federal Executive Council members, the National Assembly members, the judiciary, and other government appointees, adding that the new syllabus will comprise key topics.
He said, “FEC has also approved the establishment of National Values Brigade in all primary and secondary schools across the country. This will help raise model citizens among Nigerian children as values ambassadors. Creating role models is one of the sustainability strategies of the National Identity Project of the Renewed Hope Programme of the present government.”
Represented by the director of Special Duties and State Operations, David Akoje, the DG said the approval was also made for the nationalisation of cartoon content in Nigeria to break the dominance of foreign cartoons in the country and to promote our values, cultures, heroes, and lifestyles, saying this will help in encouraging local cartoon content creators through various forms of government support to create jobs and develop the animation movie sub-sector.
The DG also informed that approval was also made for the global implementation of the campaign for national reputation management as part of the National Identity project change of name from the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade to the Citizens Value Brigade.
“FEC also approved that Value Orientation be made a compulsory component of the one-year mandatory national youth Service with NOA working with NYSC to inculcate national values on fresh graduates of higher institutions of learning.”
He said the constitution of the implementation committee for the National Identity project comprising top government officials, selected private sector players, representatives of traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups to be co-chaired by representatives of the federal government and private sectors, with the NOA as their secretariat.
In a welcome address, the Benue State Director NOA Audu Idoko described the move by the federal government to reawaken the minds of citizens on the need to promote the National Values Charter and the National Anthem as apt.
