Nigeria, often hailed as the Giant of Africa, is a nation where over 250 ethnic groups, 500 languages, and countless traditions weave a vibrant tapestry of cultural heritage. This diversity is both strength and a challenge, requiring deliberate efforts to preserve and promote unity amid differences.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has emerged as a pivotal force in this mission, implementing programs that celebrate Nigeria’s cultural richness while fostering a shared sense of national identity. From revitalising indigenous languages to promoting cultural festivals and grassroots sensitisation, NOA’s initiatives are bridging the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring that Nigeria’s heritage remains a living, breathing part of its future.
Innovations
One of NOA’s most innovative efforts is its push to reclaim the cultural consciousness of Nigerian children, who are increasingly influenced by foreign media. Recognising that cartoons and children’s programming shape young minds, the agency launched a high-quality animated cartoon competition for Nigerian children under 12. The goal is to produce content that reflects Nigeria’s heritage, values, and lifestyle, countering the dominance of foreign cartoons that often promote alien cultural norms.
This initiative is more than entertainment; it’s a cultural reawakening. By encouraging local creators to develop animations rooted in Nigerian folklore, NOA aims to instill pride in indigenous languages, moral values, and social conduct. The agency believes that such content will reduce exposure to negative influences while strengthening children’s connection to their roots. Complementing this effort, NOA has integrated Citizenship Studies into school curricula nationwide, ensuring that from primary to tertiary levels, students learn about national values, leadership, and the importance of preserving their cultural identity.
At the heart of Nigeria’s cultural preservation is storytelling, a tradition that has passed down history, wisdom, and values for generations. NOA has tapped into this timeless practice by collaborating with communities to revive oral traditions. Across Nigeria, from the Yoruba’s Ìtàn (mythical tales) to the Igbo’s Mmanwu (masquerade stories) and the Hausa’s Tatsuniya (folktales), these narratives are being preserved and promoted as tools for unity and education.
Festivals
NOA’s approach extends beyond nostalgia; it actively engages modern platforms. The agency supports storytelling festivals like the Ake Arts and Book Festival and the CORA Book and Art Festival, where authors, poets, and performers celebrate Nigeria’s diversity through literature and oral performances. These events are not just cultural showcases but also forums for dialogue, where Nigerians from different backgrounds can find common ground in shared stories.
Cultural festivals are another cornerstone of NOA’s strategy. Events like the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove festival, the Calabar Carnival (dubbed “Africa’s Biggest Street Party”), and the Argungu Fishing Festival are more than tourist attractions, they are living expressions of Nigeria’s unity in diversity. NOA works with local governments and traditional leaders to promote these festivals, emphasizing their role in fostering national pride and cross-cultural understanding.
Town Hall
In Nasarawa state, for instance, NOA organised a town hall meeting on national identity, where stakeholders including traditional rulers, policymakers, and youth leaders discussed ways to strengthen Nigeria’s collective identity. Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Information, reinforced the message that “Nigerians have no nation, but Nigeria,” urging citizens to embrace their shared destiny while celebrating their unique cultural backgrounds.
While tradition forms the foundation, NOA is also leveraging technology to ensure Nigeria’s heritage thrives in the digital age. Partnering with UNICEF, the agency has promoted platforms like the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), which provides digital access to educational content, including cultural history and indigenous language resources. Additionally, initiatives like YOMA and U-report connect young Nigerians to opportunities that blend tradition with innovation, from entrepreneurship to social impact projects.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also being explored as tools to bring Nigeria’s cultural heritage to life. Imagine a child in Lagos experiencing the Eyo Festival through VR or a Diaspora Nigerian revisiting the Argungu Fishing Festival via an online archive. These technologies, supported by NOA’s vision, could revolutionise how future generations engage with their heritage.
NOA’s programmes demonstrate that preserving cultural heritage is not about resisting change but about ensuring that progress does not erase identity. By empowering children through culturally relevant education, reviving story-telling traditions, celebrating festivals, and harnessing technology, the agency is building a Nigeria where diversity is not just tolerated, but cherished as the bedrock of national unity.
As Dr. Priscilla Gondoaluor, the zonal director, North Central Zone of the National Orientation Agency, aptly stated, the campaign to build Nigeria is about redirecting ideals toward justice, fairness, and patriotism. In a world where globalisation often dilutes local cultures, NOA’s work reminds Nigerians that their heritage is not just a relic of the past; it is the compass guiding the nation’s future. Through these efforts, Nigeria’s cultural diversity remains not just a memory, but a living, evolving force for unity and pride.
…Ovie, NOA’s Public Relations Officer, could be reached via Ovie1ng@yahoo.com