Nigeria’s Crises Linked to Lack of National Identity says NOA DG

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, has attributed Nigeria’s ongoing crises to the country’s long-standing lack of a shared national identity. Speaking at the inauguration of a joint committee with the National Universities Commission to integrate national values into university curricula, Issa-Onilu said the absence of a collective sense of belonging since independence has fueled insecurity, governance challenges, and social fragmentation.

He highlighted the National Values Charter, introduced under the Nigerian Identity Project, as a key tool to instill integrity, unity, discipline, and accountability among citizens. The Charter, now set to be embedded in university curricula, builds on Heritage and Citizenship Studies already compulsory in primary and secondary schools, aiming to produce graduates who embody Nigerian identity with purpose.

The NUC’s Assistant Chief Academic Planning Officer, Florence Onuoha, confirmed that the program will be implemented through the General Studies Unit and called for capacity-building training for lecturers to ensure effective rollout.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale