The Zambian government has expressed interest in adopting Nigeria’s National Values Charter, a key component of the proposed Nigerian Identity Project earlier approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
This development emerged during a visit by officials of the Zambian High Commission in Nigeria to the headquarters of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abuja. The delegation, led by Deputy High Commissioner Mrs Jenipher Mutembo, held discussions with the NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, on how Zambia could understudy the charter’s framework and operational model.
Welcoming the delegation, Issa-Onilu outlined the Agency’s structure and nationwide reach, noting that the NOA maintains 818 offices across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are deeply rooted at the grassroots level and remain a vital communication channel between the government and the people,” he said.
He explained that the Agency not only disseminates government policies, programmes, and projects but also gathers grassroots feedback to guide policy decisions. According to him, these reports are routinely shared with relevant government institutions and the National Assembly.
Issa-Onilu further highlighted the NOA’s mandate to promote patriotism, civic responsibility, and unity among Nigerians, while stressing the importance of redefining leadership in Africa beyond political figures to include civil, traditional, and moral leaders.
He also disclosed that the NOA’s work is attracting growing attention across Africa, recalling a recent engagement in the United Kingdom where the Gambian High Commissioner in London expressed similar interest in Nigeria’s national orientation model.
In her remarks, Mrs Mutembo commended the NOA for its extensive grassroots presence and operational efficiency, describing the model as one worth replicating across Africa.
“Your presence in all local government areas is powerful. This grassroots model offers a framework Zambia and other African nations can learn from,” she said.
