The Zambian government has signaled its intention to adopt Nigeria’s National Values Charter, the cornerstone of the proposed Nigerian Identity Project recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
This follows a second round of talks between officials of Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency (NOA) led by Director‑General Mallam Lanre Issa‑Onilu and a delegation from the Zambian High Commission in Nigeria, headed by Deputy High Commissioner Jenipher Mutembo.
During the meeting at NOA headquarters in Abuja, Mallam Issa‑Onilu outlined the agency’s extensive structure, noting that NOA operates 818 offices across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, giving it deep grassroots reach.
He explained that NOA’s mandate includes communicating government policies to citizens, gathering feedback for decision‑makers, and promoting patriotism, civic responsibility, and national unity. He added that his recent UK visit sparked interest from the Gambian High Commissioner, hinting at broader African collaboration, and expressed hope that Zambia might pursue similar partnerships.
For her part, Deputy High Commissioner Mutembo thanked NOA for its hospitality and praised the agency’s nationwide presence as a powerful model Zambia could emulate. She highlighted shared African values, the influence of youth, and the role of media, noting concerns over Nollywood’s portrayal of rituals and occult themes. Mutembo called for inter‑agency collaboration, proposing a formal mechanism for technical cooperation between the two countries on civic education, grassroots mobilisation, cultural diplomacy, and media content exchange.
She affirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and leveraging Nigeria’s national orientation framework to support Zambia’s own development strategy, especially in driving public participation and responsible citizenship.