The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has unveiled plans to ensure that at least 70 per cent of cartoons watched by Nigerian children reflect indigenous culture and values, as part of efforts to strengthen national identity and civic consciousness.
Director-General of the agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at shaping positive values among young Nigerians, many of whom are increasingly exposed to foreign media content.
“We are working towards ensuring that at least 70 per cent of cartoons consumed by Nigerian children reflect our culture and values,” he said, emphasizing that early exposure to culturally relevant content is crucial for building responsible citizenship.
Issa-Onilu noted that the plan forms part of a broader strategy to drive value reorientation, civic education, and national identity building across the country.
He added that the agency, which evolved from the MAMSER framework, operates through a wide network of offices nationwide, enabling it to effectively reach communities at the grassroots level.
The NOA boss also stressed the importance of sustained voter and civic education ahead of future elections, particularly among young Nigerians who make up a significant portion of the population.
“Emerging digital influences and foreign content are reshaping values, sometimes negatively. This makes structured civic engagement more critical than ever,” he said.
He further revealed that the agency has developed a Nigerian Identity Project under the National Values Charter, anchored on a “seven-for-seven” framework outlining mutual responsibilities between government and citizens.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council has also approved the reintroduction of Citizenship Studies into school curricula at all levels.
On inclusion, Issa-Onilu called for a shift beyond quota-based approaches to addressing deeper structural and cultural barriers limiting women’s participation in leadership.
In her remarks, NAWOJ National President, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration on civic and voter education, ethical journalism, and the fight against misinformation ahead of elections.
She proposed joint initiatives including nationwide training workshops, community outreach programmes targeting women and youth, development of civic education materials in local languages, and coordinated media campaigns to promote informed participation.
Also speaking, NAWOJ Board of Trustees member, Zubair Jide Atta, emphasized the need to strengthen national values and integrate media and information literacy into Nigeria’s education system.