President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday the Federal Government was determined to deliver to Nigerians an enhanced value system that would promote peace, hard work and love for one another.
Jonathan said this in Abuja when he declared open the 7th Annual Forum of Laureates of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), with the theme: “The National Value System”.
Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said an enhanced national value system would help in tackling insurgency, promote good governance and engender appreciation of integrity by the citizenry
• Cue in audio
“Taking cognisance of the pivotal role value orientation plays in national development, government is determined to deliver to Nigerians, particularly the youth, an enhanced value system that promotes peace, unity, patriotism, hard-work, integrity and love for one another.
“A value system on which we can build a stronger, vibrant, indivisible and united Nigeria of our dreams.
“It is expected that when the Policy Group is finally inaugurated, practical and sustainable ideas and advice would be generated from the intellectual class to enrich the transformation of our national value system.
“This will create an improved enabling environment for a prosperous Nigeria.’’
• Cue out audio
He pointed out that value orientation played pivotal role in national development while appreciating the need for the formation of the Policy Group of the intellectual class.
The President further said that government was considering the establishment of the Nigerian National Research and Development Fund in addition to increasing the financial provision for the Endowment Fund.
He applauded the NNOM laureates for their contributions towards national and world development saying the inputs of intellectuals ensured the survival of their nations
Jonathan urged the laureates to remain focused in furtherance of excellence and development in their respective fields.
The President further said the Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) had proved itself to be responsible, unbiased and upright in the performance of its core functions.
He commended the NNMA for a job well done.
Delivering the keynote address, the Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, stressed the importance of religious values to the development of any society.
Kukah identified the absence of collectivism as factor militating against the nation’s development, urging politicians and the generality of Nigerians to put national interest ahead of personal interest.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NNMA Governing Board, Prof. Etim Essien, said that the Forum was expected to produce recommendations that would identify key issues necessary to transform the nation’s value system.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Forum of Laureates was formed in 2007.
It is part of activities leading to the investiture of the 2014 awardees of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) by the President.
NAN reports that the NNMA is an Order of merit awarded to Nigerians for intellectual and academic contributions towards development in Science, technology, medicine, arts and culture among others.(NAN)