Skip to main content Skip to footer 
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Tuesday launched a nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaign in Enugu, focusing on Nigeria’s new national anthem and the National Values Charter. The initiative, led by Enugu State NOA Director Mrs. Clara Nwachukwu, aims to foster a sense of national identity and unity amidst the country’s diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.
During a press briefing at the Federal Secretariat, Mrs. Nwachukwu highlighted the ongoing struggle Nigeria has faced with forging a unified national identity since its formation in 1914 through the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates. She attributed the challenge to heightened ethnic consciousness but stressed the importance of using Nigeria’s diversity as a strength rather than a weakness.
“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,” Nwachukwu stated.
She emphasized the need for a shift in narrative, encouraging Nigerians to embrace their differences as pillars of strength that can contribute to building a stronger nation. Reflecting on the country’s diverse ethnic makeup, Nwachukwu urged Nigerians to stop criticising each other’s cultures, religions, and values, and instead find ways to use these differences for national development.
The campaign, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of “building Nigerians to build Nigeria,” will run for three months. The goal is to instill positive values and principles that have historically formed the foundation of Nigerian society. Nwachukwu explained that the introduction of the New National Anthem and the National Values Charter represents a significant milestone in the nation’s history, aimed at fostering national pride and identity.
The National Values Charter, which outlines the “Nigerian Promise” and the “Citizens Code,” defines the mutual obligations between the state and its citizens as part of a social contract. Meanwhile, the new anthem calls for unity, patriotism, and collective prosperity, stressing Nigeria’s cohesive identity despite its ethnic and cultural diversity.
Nwachukwu underscored that the campaign is designed to remind all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or religion, of their shared values and the principles that bind them as one nation.
