By Aminu Gambo Adamu Radio Nigeria.
The Director General National Orientation Agency NOA Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu has emphasised on the crucial influence of family stability on national security and moral values.
Malam Lanre Onlilu who stated this during the opening of Haske Biyu 2025 in Kaduna described family as the first school of citizenship where discipline, respect, empathy and responsibility are instilled .
According to him ,children who grow up in homes ,guided by love ,structures and accountability are more likely to become patriotic citizens, committed to peace, law and order unlike their peers in broken homes and dysfunctional families ,whom he said often become delinquent, drug addicts, cybercriminals,cultists and even violent extremists.
“These are not abstract threats ,they are direct contributors to security challenges we are confronting today.Even as the nation strengthen its military capabilities,attention must also be given to silent long term threats arising from the erosion of family value he said”
Highlighting NOA’S role in strengthening national values, Issa Onlilu said the agency would continue to use civic education, community engagement in the 774 Local government areas ,media campaigns and school based programmes to promote discipline ,tolerance ,Unity and shared responsibility.
He also made reference to National Values charter, describing it as a social contact that is binding on the government and citizens saying that Nigerians needs to urgently develop a national patenting framework.
This,he said should be culturally grounded and accessible to parents to empower them in raising responsible,emotionally,resilient,and civic minded children as he called for reforms in schools,to include value reorientation,civic responsibility and digital citizenship .
