NOA begins campaign on national anthem, values charter in Niger state
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Niger, has announced the start of statewide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaign on Nigeria’s National Anthem and National Values Charter.
Malam Yahaya Gbongbo, State Director of NOA, announced this during a press conference in Minna on Thursday, saying the campaign was to promote national unity, patriotism, and shared values among Nigerians.
“The campaign, which will run from October to December 2024, focuses on the National Anthem and the National Values Charter,” he said.
Gbongbo said Nigeria’s national consciousness has faced challenges in recent years, including growing distrust in government institutions, diminishing loyalty to the state, and eroding patriotism.
He explained that the campaign seeks to address these issues by reinvigorating the spirit of unity, patriotism, and national pride across the country.
He said the key elements of the campaign was to reinforce loyalty to the Nation, promote civic responsibility, inculcate national values in the youths, engage the Nigerians in diaspora and leverage the power of the media.
According to him, the agency would partner with media organisations to disseminate the message of national reorientation.
He disclosed that the National Values Charter was divided into two sections which were the Nigerian Promise with seven core promises made by the country, represented by elected leaders.
He listed them to include; equality, democracy, entrepreneurship, peace and security, inclusivity, freedom and justice, and meritocracy.
He said the second charter was Citizen’s Code consisting seven-point obligations of citizens such as discipline, duty of care, tolerance and respect, leadership and patriotism and transparency.
Others were accountability, and integrity, family values and environmental awareness, and dignity of labor, resilience, and self-reliance.
He urged the people to participate in the campaign, embracing the values enshrined in the National anthem and the National values charter by working together to build a stronger more prosperous nation.
Gbongbo seek partnership with religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the private sector, and the media to ensure the campaign’s success.
In his remarks, Malam Bala Musa, Deputy Director, Programme in the agency, said the campaign was to inculcate attitudinal and behavioural change among Nigerians to overcome the woves facing the country.