By Mercy Peter
The Government of Zambia has expressed strong interest in adopting Nigeria’s National Values Charter, as a model for its own national reorientation framework.
The decision followed a bilateral engagement between officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), led by its Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and a delegation from the Zambian High Commission in Nigeria, headed by Mrs. Jenipher Mutembo, the Deputy High Commissioner.
The meeting, a ststemebt by Mr. Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director, NOA marks a new phase of South-South collaboration between both countries in the areas of civic education, value reorientation, and cultural diplomacy.
Mallam Issa-Onilu, according to the statement provided an overview of NOA’s structure and operational strategy, describing the Agency as “one of the largest and most deeply rooted in Nigeria,” with 818 offices across all 774 local government areas, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Agency serves as a vital communication bridge between the government and the people,” he explained. “We communicate policies, programmes, and projects to citizens while collecting feedback from the grassroots, which is transmitted to relevant institutions and the parliament for informed decision-making.”
He emphasized NOA’s mission to promote patriotism, civic responsibility, and unity, and noted that the Agency’s structure provides a reliable platform for real-time citizen engagement.
The Director-General also recounted his recent international engagements, including a meeting with the Gambian High Commissioner to the UK, who similarly expressed interest in NOA’s initiatives, suggesting growing continental recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in civic communication and national values promotion.
Issa-Onilu further urged African nations to broaden their definition of leadership beyond politics, to include traditional, civic, and moral figures as essential drivers of national values and ethical transformation.
Mrs. Jenipher Mutembo, Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, expressed appreciation for the NOA’s hospitality and transparency, noting that the Agency’s wide reach and structured grassroots presence present a strong model for inclusive national reorientation.
“I must commend your presence in all local government areas,” she said. “This grassroots model is powerful, and we see its potential as a framework other African countries, Zambia included, can learn from.”
Mrs. Mutembo praised the National Values Charter initiative as a viable template for fostering patriotism, civic responsibility, and social cohesion, and revealed that Zambia intends to understudy NOA’s operational framework to inform the creation of its own national values programme.
Highlighting the influence of Nigeria’s cultural exports, particularly Nollywood, Mrs. Mutembo drew attention to the powerful role of media in shaping social values across Africa.
“Our young people are watching these films and forming perceptions about success, morality, and identity,” she noted.
“What we portray on screen influences national values and international image. As leaders, we must ensure that the content reaching the public inspires unity, dignity, and pride in African heritage.”
While commending Nollywood’s global impact, she voiced Zambia’s growing concern over the prevalence of occult, ritual, and superstition-themed content in some productions, urging for a creative balance that promotes positive values, innovation, and responsible storytelling.
Mrs. Mutembo proposed the establishment of a formal technical cooperation framework between Zambia and Nigeria, focusing on civic education, grassroots mobilisation, media collaboration, and cultural exchange.
She reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and learning from Nigeria’s experience in institutionalised civic engagement, describing NOA as “a strategic leader in shaping citizen behaviour and public participation.”
“Nigeria’s investment in structured national orientation can serve as a model for Zambia’s national development strategy,” she added. “We seek to replicate systems that build responsible citizenship and encourage active participation in governance.”
