Agency, Women Journalists Partner On Civic Education Ahead 2027 Elections

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reiterated its commitment to value reorientation, civic education, and national identity building, calling for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) ahead of the next general elections.

Director-General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit by NAWOJ, described the engagement as timely and strategic for national development and democratic consolidation.

He said effective nation-building required sustained partnerships between institutions responsible for public communication and citizen engagement, noting that NOA—established from the former MAMSER framework—maintains a robust grassroots structure with over 800 offices nationwide.

Issa-Onilu highlighted the agency’s unique mandate to manage information and civic orientation, while commending women journalists for their patriotism and contributions to national development through ethical journalism and voluntary service.

A statement by the director of communication and media, Bala Musa, noted that the director general emphasised the urgency of strengthening voter and civic education among young Nigerians, observing that a significant proportion of the population is under the age of 35.

According to him, emerging digital influences and foreign media content are reshaping values—sometimes negatively—making structured civic engagement for the national good more critical than ever.

The NOA director-general disclosed that the agency had developed the Nigerian Identity Project under the National Values Charter, anchored on a “seven-for-seven” principle outlining mutual responsibilities between government and citizens.

He added that the Federal Executive Council had approved key components, including the reintroduction of Citizenship Studies into school curricula at all levels, in a bid to uphold and promote national values.

He also noted ongoing plans to encourage increased local production of children’s content, with a target of ensuring that at least 70 per cent of cartoons consumed by Nigerian children reflect indigenous culture and values.

Issa-Onilu stressed the need for the strategic deployment of communication resources to improve public perception and strengthen national cohesion, while calling for a shift from quota-based approaches to addressing structural and cultural barriers limiting women’s participation in leadership.

In her remarks, NAWOJ National President, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration in civic and voter education, ethical journalism, and the fight against misinformation ahead of the upcoming elections.

She proposed a joint NOA–NAWOJ initiative involving nationwide training workshops, community outreach programmes targeting women and youth, the development of civic education materials in local languages, and coordinated media campaigns to promote inclusive and informed participation.

Also speaking, a member of the NAWOJ Board of Trustees, Zubair Jide Atta, underscored the importance of national values and civic orientation, reflecting on the evolution of Nigeria’s national anthem and advocating stronger integration of media and information literacy into educational systems.