NOA Sets Up Joint Committee to Introduce Citizenship Studies into Nigerian University Curriculum

NOA Sets Up Joint Committee to Introduce Citizenship Studies into Nigerian University Curriculum

Abiola Adigun | Albarka 89.9 FM | Ilorin | November 24 2025

In a bid to foster responsible citizenship among young Nigerians, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a joint committee to integrate Citizenship Studies into the curricula of Nigerian universities. The committee, inaugurated on Monday at the NOA’s headquarters in Abuja, brings together representatives from the NOA, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Nigerian media.

The committee’s primary task is to draft a framework for the incorporation of Citizenship Studies, a key component of the National Values Charter (NVC), into the nation’s higher education institutions. The NVC is part of the broader Nigerian Identity Project (NIP), which aims to re-establish Nigeria’s foundational values and promote national unity.

At the inauguration, the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, highlighted the importance of the initiative, emphasizing that it was not merely a slogan-driven campaign but a national movement. According to Issa-Onilu, the NIP represents a renewed social contract between the Nigerian state and its people, structured around two key pillars: the Nigerian Promise—which outlines the rights and expectations of citizens—and the Citizen Codes, which set forth the values and behaviors expected of Nigerians.

“The principles outlined in the NVC are not abstract,” Issa-Onilu said. “They must be instilled in young Nigerians, especially as Citizenship Studies have already been integrated into the curricula of primary and secondary schools across the country.”

He stressed that the goal was not only to produce graduates but also to develop citizens who embody the Nigerian identity with honor and dignity. The director-general called on the newly inaugurated committee to work diligently to ensure that this objective is met.

Mrs. Florence Uju Onuoha, who led the NUC’s delegation to the inauguration, expressed gratitude to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for endorsing the initiative. She noted that the decision to develop a curriculum for Citizenship Studies underscores the country’s commitment to shaping responsible citizens who will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and foster national unity.

The NUC, she assured, would collaborate with academic experts in curriculum development to ensure that the initiative is successfully implemented.

The joint committee’s efforts are expected to play a crucial role in instilling values of national pride, unity, and responsibility among Nigeria’s university students, paving the way for a future generation of well-rounded citizens.

The Nigerian Identity Project (NIP) is an ambitious initiative aimed at restoring the country’s foundational values and addressing challenges related to national unity and citizenship. Central to the NIP is the National Values Charter (NVC), which serves as a guide for both the rights of citizens and their responsibilities to the nation. This initiative has already been incorporated into the primary and secondary school curricula, and now, with the creation of the new committee, it aims to extend its reach to Nigeria’s universities. The ultimate goal is to ensure that young Nigerians are not only academically equipped but also prepared to contribute positively to the growth and stability of the nation.