The National Orientation Agency has kicked off the push to introduce Citizenship Studies into Nigerian universities with the inauguration of a joint committee in Abuja.

The committee, made up of representatives from the National Universities Commission, NOA and the media, was inaugurated by NOA’s Director General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, who tasked members to produce a draft framework that will guide the full incorporation of the course into tertiary curricula.

Issa-Onilu said the initiative is part of the Nigerian Identity Project, which includes the National Values Charter. He described the project as a national movement designed to rebuild Nigeria’s value system through practical actions, shared responsibility and institutional reforms. 

He explained that the charter rests on two pillars: the Nigerian Promise, which outlines what citizens should expect from the country, and the Citizen Codes, which spell out the values citizens are expected to uphold.

He stressed that these principles are not theoretical and must be instilled in young people, noting that Citizenship Studies are already embedded in primary and secondary school curricula. 

Extending it to universities, he said, will ensure institutions produce not only degree holders but citizens who embody national values with dignity.

The leader of the NUC team, Florence Uju Onuoha, welcomed the approval granted by the Federal Executive Council, saying it demonstrates the government’s commitment to raising responsible citizens, strengthening national unity and deepening democratic culture. 

She assured the agency that the committee will work with academic experts to deliver a solid curriculum for university adoption.