From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has disclosed their desire to introduce Nationalism Studies in schools curriculum to instil values in the minds of Nigerians.
The Director General, (DG), NOA, Lanre Issah-Onilu, disclosed this in Makurdi while briefing newsmen on the strategies to rejig the agency.
The DG disclosed this while in Benue State for a two day familiarisation and working visit the the state office.
Issah-Onilu said nationalism studies will be introduced in schools cross the country from the primary school to the university level.
He expressed optimism that the introduction of the subjects in school will institutionalise values and ensure that citizens imbibe the Nigerian values right from the cradle.
He explained that the measure was part of the components of the National Values Charter which will soon be unveiled by the federal government to showcase the nation’s value system.
According to him, while the charter has two components comprising of the Nigerian promise and the code of conduct, each component has seven pillars called “seven for seven”, to ensure that while the country fulfil its promise to the people, they in turn attract patriotism from the citizens.
The DG stated that after the unveiling of the charter, part of the programmes of implementation to ensure the people imbibe the values also include reintroduction of civic education in schools, introduction of Boys and girls brigade, production of cartoons with local contents, as well as citizens brigade in primary school level with 37,000 members, which is 10,000 from each state and the FCT.
He stated that the agency will soon embark on a global campaign to tell the world what it means to be a Nigerian saying Nigerians are intelligent, confident and smart people but nefarious acts such as banditry, kidnapping, Yahoo Yahoo among others were not part of our values.
He therefore told newsmen that in carrying out value reorientation, actions and programmes of the agency would be guided by the acronym CLHEEAN where the Agency will launch campaign against the menace of Crime, Lawlessness, Health related issues, Education, Environmental issues, All forms of Abuse as well as issues of drugs and narcotics.
According to him, the agency is creating platforms to enlighten Nigerians including a mobile App called the mobiliser among others to to give Nigerians the opportunities to report crimes and such acts that devalue the country so that perpetrators are exposed and brought to book.