By Caleb Ayansina

ABUJA — The National Orientation Agency, NOA and the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to partner for a certificate course in patriotism, ethical and cultural value education in Nigeria.

The Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri and the Vice Chancellor, UNIABUJA, Professor Michael Adikwu, represented by the university’s Registrar, Mrs. Riflkatu Swanta signed the document at the presentation of the report of the Joint Action Committee of NOA and UNIABUJA on Ethics, Values, Civic Education and Cultural Re-orientation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Omeri described the MoU as a patriotic effort at entrenching solutions to the problem of indiscipline in the country; to produce patriotic, disciplined and values driven graduates.

He said the Agency was hopeful to see the introduction of Ethical and Civic Education, as a General Studies course at the university and expressed the commitment of NOA to the full implementation of the report within the limits of the Agency’s capacity.

The Vice Chancellor, UNIABUJA, expressed delight at the quality and speed of work done by the committee and was optimistic that with the signing of the MoU, the nation would benefit from the introduction of training on the nation’s core values as a compulsory course in the university.

He added that the university was open to partnering further with NOA on other areas to boost the provision of patriotism training to the nation.

The programme will begin as a certificate course in the university while approval will be sought from the National Universities Commission, NUC, for a possible upgrade to a degree course in the future.