- The Federal Government plans to establish a citizens brigade, recruiting over 37,000 children to promote core values and good citizenship
- The new national anthem is intended to evoke stronger patriotism, with Nigerians encouraged to learn and memorize it
Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), announced that the Federal Government plans to establish a citizens brigade to promote core values.
During an advocacy visit to the Nigerian Christian Institute (NCI) in Uyo on Monday, Issa-Onilu revealed that the brigade is part of the National Value Charter, which President Bola Tinubu will unveil later this year.
The DG explained that the initiative will recruit over 37,000 Nigerian children and raise them as models to promote core values and good citizenship.
Issa-Onilu emphasized the importance of nurturing Nigerian children from a young age with core values to help them grow into patriotic and productive adults.
“We have seven items on our plan to deepen national values; one of them is the establishment of a citizens brigade,” he said. “It is to give opportunities to our children to be nurtured from a tender age. It is one of the voluntary institutions we intend to create.”
He added that the brigade would be similar to the traditional Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, with children being kitted out and raised as model citizens.
Issa-Onilu noted that the goal is to enlist hundreds of children into the brigade over the next few years.
He also urged Nigerians to learn and memorize the new national anthem to demonstrate their patriotism.
“The new national anthem symbolises Nigerians’ allegiance and loyalty to the country. It is more impactful, meaningful, and capable of uniting us,” he said.
Issa-Onilu explained that the new anthem evokes a stronger sense of patriotism and nationalism, resonating more deeply with Nigerians than the previous one.
In her remarks, Ms. Mfon Nze, Principal of NCI, Uyo, expressed gratitude for the advocacy visit, noting that it would have a lasting impact on the school’s value system.
“I feel glad you chose NCI out of all the Akwa Ibom and Uyo schools. This will remain indelible in the history of this institution,” she said.