By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The National Orientation Agency has inaugurated a joint committee with the National Broadcasting Commission to drive the nationalisation of cartoons in Nigeria, a policy aimed at reshaping children’s media consumption and strengthening cultural identity.
The seven-member committee was inaugurated by NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who described the initiative as a strategic move to preserve Nigerian culture, promote shared values, and reorient young people through locally relevant animated content.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mallam Issa-Onilu noted that cartoons are powerful tools for shaping children’s worldview and identity, warning that Nigerian screens have long been dominated by foreign animations disconnected from local realities and aspirations.
Quoting the African proverb, “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter,” the NOA Director-General stressed the urgency of allowing Nigerian children to see themselves represented in the stories they consume.
He explained that the cartoon nationalisation policy aligns with the Nigerian Identity Project, meant to instill values such as honesty, hard work, respect, discipline, unity, and resilience, while building confidence and cultural pride among children.
Mallam Issa-Onilu charged committee members to work with discipline, transparency, commitment, and dedication, expressing confidence that their assignment would transform Nigeria’s media space into one that educates, uplifts citizens, and preserves the nation’s cultural heritage.
Responding on behalf of the NBC, Director of Broadcast Policy and Research, Mrs Stella Erhunmwunsee, assured Nigerians that the Commission would revise the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to mandate indigenous cartoon content and support implementation nationwide.
She added that the NBC would collaborate with media houses, organise awareness campaigns, provide technical training on compliance, and deploy zonal directors to monitor broadcasters, while NOA’s involvement in code reviews would strengthen policy enforcement.
Members of the joint committee include representatives from NOA and NBC, among them Alhaji Nuhu Yusuf Kobi, Mallam Bala Musa, Barrister Williams Dogo, Blessing Oyem, Sherifat Adegbesan, Stella Erhunmwunsee, Susan Obi, and Pauline Ehusani.