NOA to Organise Local Cartoon Competition for Nigerian Kids
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Isa- Onilu, has announced plans to create high-quality animation cartoon competition specifically for Nigerian children, aged between one and 12.
Onilu made the announcement on Monday when Mallam Yushau Shuaib, Publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, led a team from Image Merchants Promotion Ltd. (IMPR) on a courtesy visit to his office, in Abuja.
“The NOA is committed to promoting and instilling the spirit of Nigerianness in the minds of our children through cartoon animations,” Onilu stated.
“We will utilise various public relations tools to achieve this goal, ensuring all Nigerians share a common identity and values,” he added.
He emphasised the importance of raising children with a strong Nigerian identity, highlighting the influence of foreign cartoons on young minds.
“For the past 30 years,” he said, “our children have primarily watched foreign cartoons that promote foreign values and mannerisms. Some even contain harmful content like the normalisation of same-sex relationships, which many parents are unaware of. This exposure shapes their understanding of the world, and we need to counter it with positive portrayals of our own culture and values,” the NOA boss stated.
To address this concern, he explained that the NOA is launching a call for entries from local animation creators to produce world-class cartoons based on Nigerian values, culture, and etiquette.
“We want the content our children consume to reflect who we are.”
He further noted that the NOA is working to implement the study of nationalism into the school curriculum, from primary school to university just like any other compulsory subjects,” Onilu said.
“Children will learn about Nigerianness, its history and its significance. This will equip them with a strong sense of identity and belonging”, he added.
He expressed confidence that these initiatives, combined with strategic partnerships with PR firms like IMPR, will effectively cultivate a generation of Nigerians with shared values and a unified national identity.
Earlier, in his remarks, Mr. Shuaib commended the Director-General’s efforts in revitalising the NOA’s image through strategic planning.
He acknowledged the agency’s potential to significantly contribute to projecting a positive image of Nigeria.
