The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, recently paid a strategic visit to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in a bid to strengthen institutional collaboration and foster synergy in national reorientation and voter education.
The meeting emphasised the urgent need for coordinated efforts in civic engagement, value reorientation, and voter education, especially as Nigeria prepares for the upcoming electoral cycle.
Mallam Issa-Onilu, reflecting on his early days in office, noted that his initial focus was to restore morale and institutional relevance within the NOA, an agency that had endured years of neglect. He expressed admiration for the agency’s dedicated and patriotic workforce, recognizing their untapped potential.
He emphasised that nation building must go beyond physical infrastructure, stating that “without emotional and psychological connection to the country, development efforts remain hollow.”
Addressing the challenges faced during the last election, the NOA DG decried the proliferation of fake news, especially on social media platforms. He called for more inclusive and innovative voter education, spotlighting NOA’s initiatives such as:
In his response, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu commended the revitalization of NOA under Issa-Onilu’s leadership. He lauded the agency’s creative use of NOA TV, radio, and AI-powered communication platforms to reach the public.
Prof. Yakubu endorsed deeper collaboration, particularly in engaging youth, women, and persons with disabilities. He reaffirmed NOA’s key roles in major electoral committees.
