70% Local Cartoons Plan: Nigeria Pushes for Homegrown Stories
The Federal Government is moving to change what Nigerian children watch, with a plan to ensure that at least 70 per cent of cartoons they consume reflect local culture and values.
The National Orientation Agency is leading this effort as part of a broader strategy to rebuild national identity and promote responsible behaviour among young people. The focus is on using cartoons not just for entertainment, but as a tool to teach culture, discipline and civic responsibility.
The agency is concerned that many children are growing up on foreign content, picking up accents, lifestyles and values that do not fully represent Nigerian society. This shift, it says, is gradually weakening cultural identity among young people.
By increasing the share of local cartoons to 70 per cent, the government hopes children will grow up seeing familiar stories, languages and traditions on screen. The plan also aims to support Nigerian content creators and encourage more investment in children-focused media.
This move is part of a wider national effort to promote value reorientation. Alongside it, government has approved the reintroduction of citizenship studies in schools to help children understand their roles and responsibilities in society from an early age.
The agency is also expanding its civic education campaigns across communities, with a focus on young people ahead of future elections. It believes early engagement and proper orientation can help build a more informed and responsible generation.
The plan signals a shift in thinking. What children watch is no longer seen as just entertainment, but as a key part of how they learn, think and grow.
