The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing national values, civic education, and identity building, while calling for deeper collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections.
The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call during a courtesy visit by NAWOJ leadership, describing the engagement as both timely and strategic for national development and democratic consolidation.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that effective nation-building depends on sustained partnerships between institutions responsible for public communication and citizen engagement. He noted that NOA, which evolved from the former Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) framework, operates a vast grassroots network with over 800 offices nationwide.
He highlighted the Agency’s mandate to manage public information and civic orientation, while commending women journalists for their patriotism and contributions to national development through ethical reporting and voluntary service.
The NOA boss stressed the urgency of strengthening voter and civic education, particularly among young Nigerians, noting that a large segment of the population is under the age of 35. He warned that growing digital influences and foreign media content are increasingly shaping societal values, sometimes negatively, making structured civic engagement more critical.
Issa-Onilu disclosed that the Agency has developed the Nigerian Identity Project under the National Values Charter, anchored on a “seven-for-seven” principle that outlines mutual responsibilities between government and citizens. He added that the Federal Executive Council has approved key components of the initiative, including the reintroduction of Citizenship Studies into school curricula at all levels to reinforce national values.
He further revealed plans to boost local content production for children, with a target of ensuring that at least 70 per cent of cartoons consumed by Nigerian children reflect indigenous culture and values.
The Director-General also called for strategic communication approaches to strengthen national cohesion and improve public perception, urging stakeholders to move beyond quota-based systems and instead address structural and cultural barriers limiting women’s participation in leadership.
In her remarks, the National President of NAWOJ, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the visit aimed to deepen collaboration in civic and voter education, ethical journalism, and the fight against misinformation ahead of the elections.
She proposed a joint NOA–NAWOJ initiative that would include nationwide training workshops, community outreach programmes targeting women and youth, development of civic education materials in local languages, and coordinated media campaigns to promote informed and inclusive participation.
Also speaking, a member of NAWOJ’s Board of Trustees, Zubair Jide Atta, highlighted the importance of national values and civic orientation. He reflected on the evolution of Nigeria’s National Anthem and advocated for stronger integration of media and information literacy into the country’s education system.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment between NOA and NAWOJ to strengthen collaboration in promoting civic responsibility, national values, and inclusive governance as Nigeria prepares for upcoming elections.