In Nigeria, the Federal Government has made public its plan to ban foreign cartoons.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Onilu, a key figure in this initiative, revealed the plan in Bauchi during the launch of a campaign to promote the National Anthem and the National Value Charter.
Onilu, represented by the National Director, PRS (NOA), Nura Yusuf Kobi, raised concerns about infiltrating foreign cultures into Nigerian homes through cartoon characters.
He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had given the nod to a significant change-the replacement of foreign cartoons with Nigerian content. This shift is aimed at promoting and preserving our national values.
“We are worried that Nigeria is giving birth to children with foreign behaviours. We have noticed that our kids learn many foreign attitudes through cartoons from other countries. We will replace them with local cartoons promoting our character and culture so that those currently shown on GOtv, StarTimes, and the rest will be substituted,” Onilu said.
He further remarked, “Nigeria’s image has been badly portrayed abroad as a country of kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, fraudsters, and so on. We want to redefine our identity because, at the moment, nobody can clearly define Nigeria’s identity. In the past, during the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria had a well-defined identity.”
“It is unfortunate that Nigerians now celebrate when someone returns items or money at airports to their rightful owners as if the person has done something extraordinary. In normal circumstances, every Nigerian should be honest, but due to recent events, many of us have lost our moral compass,” he lamented.
Onilu explained that the campaign aims to redefine the nation’s identity, change the narrative, and discourage Nigerians from concealing their identity while abroad.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Coordinator of NOA, Mrs. Theresa Omaga, elaborated on the agency’s plans to extend the campaign across the state’s 20 local government areas. She stated that the campaign would run simultaneously at the state and regional levels.
