The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has inaugurated a joint committee comprising rep. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has inaugurated a joint committee comprising representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the media to spearhead the inclusion of Citizenship Studies into the Nigerian university curriculum.
The committee was inaugurated on Monday at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, with a mandate to develop a draft curriculum for subsequent consideration and adoption. This initiative is a core component of the National Values Charter (NVC).
Speaking at the event, Issa-Onilu described the Nigerian Identity Project (NIP), which houses the NVC, as a deliberate effort to restore Nigeria to its foundational values.
He emphasized that the NIP is a national movement not built on slogans, but on action, shared responsibility, and a commitment to institutional transformation.
The Director-General noted that at the heart of the project is the NVC, a renewed social contract between Nigeria and its people.
He explained that the charter rests on two pillars: the Nigerian Promise, which outlines what every citizen deserves, and the Citizen Codes, which define the values citizens are expected to exemplify.
Issa-Onilu stressed that these principles are not abstract and must be inculcated in young Nigerians.
He recalled that Citizenship Studies have already been fully integrated into Nigeria’s primary and secondary school curricula and tasked the committee to ensure Nigerian universities produce graduates who showcase the Nigerian identity with honor and dignity.
In her remarks, the team lead for the NUC, Mrs. Florence Uju Onuoha, expressed gratitude to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving the NOA’s initiative.
She stated that the decision reflects a deep commitment to nurturing responsible citizens, fostering national unity, strengthening democratic values, and positively shaping the character of the youth.
Onuoha assured the Director-General that the joint committee would effectively discharge its duties in collaboration with academic experts specializing in curriculum development.
