Nigeria’s need for civic education
As far back as the 1980s, it became painfully evident that the lack of civic education and patriotic orientation had led to disorientation in schools and the larger society. The consequences were being felt at all strata of our society. This was why Political Bureau set up by former President Ibrahim Babangida recommended, in March […]
As far back as the 1980s, it became painfully evident that the lack of civic education and patriotic orientation had led to disorientation in schools and the larger society. The consequences were being felt at all strata of our society. This was why Political Bureau set up by former President Ibrahim Babangida recommended, in March 1987, the establishment of a Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER) which eventually transformed into the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Events of the recent past have indicated that Nigeria is on the brink of loosing its much cherished sense of nationhood, cultural identity and indeed, hospitable spirit. The prevalent trend of corruption, indiscipline, disrespect for both elders and the rule of law, noncommittal to duty etc are some of the manifestations of negative values in the Nigerian society. These call for urgent value reorientation because of their far reaching impact on national development.
In all these, the school cannot be left out. One should therefore commend the National Orientation Agency and the National Technical Committee on Civic Education for initiating the writing of textbooks on civic education for Nigerian schools.
To this end, teachers are very critical to the success of this bold initiative. Theirs is to inculcate the right kind of values through effective teaching of civic education.
It is gratifying therefore to note that the National Orientation Agency working in collaboration with other members of the technical committee will undertake a capacity building programme for teachers at all levels for the sustainability of civic education in the Nigerian school curriculum.
It should be noted that the evolvement and sustenance of appropriate levels of social and national consciousness is the responsibility of all and sundry. While government provides the enabling opportunities for individuals and groups to make valid contributions to reviving a value based nationalistic spirit, it is important to note that education and conscious positive information sharing hold the key to ensuring that citizens exhibit acceptable standards of socialization.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Alhaji Idi Faruk in his address said the decision to re-introduce civic education was based on a critical analysis of the democratic history of Nigeria and a comparative research of advanced democracies in other nations. According to him, “our finding was that those countries invest heavily on the socialization of their citizens. It can therefore be assumed that, many of our national challenges, especially in the democratic sphere, may be as a result of our inability to invest in citizens’ socialisation”, the Director-General noted.
He further noted that the first phase of the programme was to provide reference and teaching materials on civic education as well as to address the policy implication of the project, and called on the organized private sector in Nigeria to contribute to these efforts through partnering with National Orientation Agency (NOA) to purchase and donate the textbooks to all children of school age nationwide. Such corporate partners would enjoy immense mileage through branding of the books in their corporate emblems.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Jubril Bello Gada, speaking at the occasion said people are the main drivers of democracy, stressing that the self-reformatory nature of democracy is essentially a direct result of the participation of the people. He noted that through civic education, the citizens are provided with the knowledge, skill and the culture that will not only enhance their role but also enrich the democratic practice.
In his keynote address at the public presentation of the books, the Chairman, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Governing Board and former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran said, events of the recent past have indicated that Nigeria is on the brink of loosing its much cherished sense of nationhood, cultural identity and, indeed, hospitable spirit. He recalled that in the past decade, especially at the inception of the democratic dispensation after a long period of military rule, crises of baffling proportions erupted in several parts of the country. These crises, he said, defied boundaries, ranging from political and social to religious and sometimes appearing to have economic connotations.
Professor Adeniran further posited that the recurring decimal and explanations for this growing state of unproductively and dearth of nationalistic spirit has been the fact that our citizens have individually and collectively abandoned their sense of responsibility towards self, fellow Nigerians, and very sadly, the nation itself. He submitted that it is perhaps rational to admit that you really cannot hold some one responsible for an action which he or she is not well informed about or a lifestyle for which he or she has not been adequately groomed.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Sam Egwu said the reintroduction of civic education into our schools system has come at the most auspicious moment in our country’s democratic history, noting “this is a time when government is making every effort not only to savour unprecedented 10 years of uninterrupted democratic practice, but to introduce measures to further deepen and strengthen democratic culture”.
Agu, Chief Press Secretary, NOA