The National Orientation Agency on Tuesday, unveiled in Enugu, a sensitisation and public enlightenment campaign on Nigeria’s new national anthem and national values charter.
Addressing journalists on the need for the nationwide sensitisation campaign at the Federal Secretariat, Enugu State Director NOA, Mrs Clara Nwachukwu, explained that because of Nigeria’s multilingual, multiethnic and multi-religious nature, the country, since independence, has been struggling with the issue of national identity.
Nwachukwu noted that though Nigeria was birthed in 1914 historically via the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, the search for identity has been a problematic one, “due to the ever-increasing level of ethnic consciousness among Nigerians.”
She added, “While there is nothing wrong in acknowledging the socio-cultural and religious differences of the various ethnic nationalities in the country, we must not allow such to deny us the reality that we are now a people with a common destiny. It is worthy of mention that our diversities should be a pillar of strength rather than that of weakness.
“Worrisomely, the various ethnic groups that make up Nigeria often criticise others and everything that defines them, including their culture, religion, values, and way of life, instead of optimizing these differences as sources of strength to build one of the greatest nations on earth.
“This narrative elicits some critical questions which may be begging for answers. First, what are the plausible strategies that can be adopted to correct these wrongs in the country, to create a platform that can ‘build Nigerians that will build Nigeria? Second, how do Nigerians optimize the gains in our diversities and strengths for the enthronement of Nigeria that we all can be proud of?
“There is no doubt that successive governments in Nigeria have made several efforts to provide answers to these questions. All these efforts were channelled towards building a nation characterized by positive values.”
She said President Bola Tinubu’s administration has categorically stated that, “We must build Nigerians to build Nigeria,” through sensitization and reorientation campaigns. Therefore, in compliance with the directives from the National Headquarters, Abuja, the National Orientation Agency, Enugu State is kick-starting a three-month state-wide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaign on Nigeria’s National Anthem and National Value Charter today being Tuesday, the 8th day of October 2024.
“The aim of the programme is to re-orientate and redirect Nigerians, regardless of class, ethnicity, or religion toward the values and principles that have long been associated with our culture and have been the foundation of our institutions and society. The introduction of the New National Anthem and the National Values Charter ushers in an important milestone for national pride and identity. This action reflects the changing ideals and aspirations of the nation. Values may be defined as accepted principles or standards of behaviour that are used to characterise individuals and societies.
“The National Values Charter is categorized into two: the Nigerian Promise (the promises made by the Nigerian State through its elected representatives) and the Citizens Code (the obligations of the citizenry to nation-building). This social contract between the Nigerian State and its people is the pivot upon which countries are built and sustained.
“In the same vein, the New National Anthem is a potent call for harmony, equity, and prosperity among Nigerians. In the opening stanza of the new anthem, a powerful sense of unity, patriotism and brotherhood in a country with more than 250 different ethnic nations is established. The cohesive identity of Nigeria is given particular attention, even as it acknowledges the wide variety of cultures and languages that comprise the nation. This unity entails more than just getting along; it also emphasizes standing together in pride and in support of our country.”
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