The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has visited the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in a renewed bid to strengthen institutional collaboration and deepen national reorientation efforts.
During the visit, Issa-Onilu praised INEC’s consistent efforts in managing Nigeria’s electoral process and acknowledged the delay in reaching out, citing the need to first revive and reorient the NOA internally.
Issa-Onilu disclosed that before his appointment, he questioned NOA’s relevance but quickly discovered a dedicated, patriotic workforce upon resumption.
He lamented years of institutional neglect that had left the agency underutilised and noted that his first task was to restore purpose and hope within the agency.
He emphasised that national development requires more than physical infrastructure, arguing that without psychological connection to the country, such efforts would be hollow.
The NOA boss outlined the agency’s twin mandate, communicating government policies and fostering value reorientation and national identity.
National Reorientation: Building capacity for voter and civic education
He explained that the agency’s structure, with offices in all 774 local government areas, 36 states, and the FCT, positions it as a natural vehicle for mass public engagement. The agency, he said, regularly submits public feedback to the presidency and major institutions to shape policy and gauge public sentiment.
Issa-Onilu stressed that patriotism cannot be legislated but must be cultivated through emotional and psychological bonds. He called for deeper collaboration with INEC to ensure citizens are not only informed but also engaged and cooperative in electoral processes. To boost internal capacity, he revealed that NOA has expanded its departments from 12 to 16, introducing a new Civic, Value, and Democracy Education Department to bridge civic knowledge gaps, particularly among the youth.
He highlighted the challenges posed by misinformation during the last election, especially on social media platforms, and proposed enhanced voter education campaigns targeting young people through initiatives like CLHEEAN and the entertainment-focused NOA Halkathon. He also pointed out the lack of a dedicated democracy education budget for NOA and argued that the agency’s reach makes it best suited to lead public voter education, while INEC focuses on election management.
National Reorientation: INEC embraces strategic synergy
In response, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu expressed appreciation for NOA’s renewed drive under Issa-Onilu’s leadership. He acknowledged the agency’s innovative use of digital tools, including NOA TV, radio, and AI-based communication platforms. Prof. Yakubu welcomed the proposed partnership expansion, especially in engaging marginalised groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
He reaffirmed NOA’s role in key electoral committees, including the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security and the soon-to-be-restructured National Committee on Voter Education and Publicity, NICVEP. The INEC Chairman also highlighted the importance of the upcoming elections and continuous voter registration exercise set to begin in August, calling for NOA’s support in mobilising citizens and ensuring broad participation.
