NOA stresses importance of anthem, urges Radical Campaign for Value Orientation.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has said that the ongoing nationwide sensitisation programmes of the Agency was aimed at reinforcing the significance of Nigeria’s National Anthem and National Values Charter.
The NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, while briefing the press on the ongoing programs of the agency nationwide at the NOA office in Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday, expressed optimism that programmes would also reignite national pride and foster unity.
The NOA DG, who was represented by Mrs Theresa Maduekwe, Director, Public Enlightenment Department, NOA Abuja, also emphasized that the National anthem is a powerful symbol, evoking positive sentiments among Nigerians and inspiring patriotic contributions towards nation-building.
According to him, the Agency is committed to ensuring that the first stanza of the National Anthem is rendered at all official functions, while the full three stanzas would be reserved for special occasions such as Independence Day, Democracy Day, and Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
He said that the agency had adopted new methodologies to reach the citizens, especially the young people that make up 70 per cent of the nation’s population, to promote government’s programmes and policies.
Issa-Onilu said that the Agency had developed an Artificial Intelligence tool, known as CHLEEAN, to address the challenges of the new media landscape.
His words, “In the last two weeks, the National Orientation Agency has achieved some milestone in its bid to re-engineer the focus of its campaigns nationwide. As you may be aware, we have been advocating for a fundamental approach to value orientation and attitudinal change campaign. whereas slogans are good for the ear, it does not entrench these values in our hearts. The act that established the Agency makes it clear what our mandate are including communicating government policies, programmes and activities; mobilizing 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.
“In collaboration with our parent Ministry, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Agency submitted for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council, some proposals seeking to entrench our value orientation processes. Many of them deal with young age indoctrination, providing the template for evaluation of the Real Nigerian character. All of the memoranda were approved by FEC”.
The DG said that NOA, as the custodian of national symbols, was approved to be the source of all official symbols to ensure standardization.
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.
In a brief speech, the NOA Abia State Director, 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.
According to her, NOA has actively engaged the community members at markets, association meetings, and religious houses to discuss key issues and interventions and in turn elicit a feedback from them.
She said that the National Orientation Agency by law is mandated to communicate government policies, Programmes and activities and that has compelled the Agency to adopt new methodologies in the fulfillment of that mandate.
