The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting national values, civic responsibility, and identity building, while seeking stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) as the country prepares for upcoming general elections.
Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this known during a courtesy visit by NAWOJ, described the engagement as both timely and strategic for national development and democratic consolidation.
Issa-Onilu stressed that effective nation-building required sustained partnerships among institutions responsible for public communication and citizen engagement. He noted that the agency, which evolved from the former MAMSER framework, maintains an extensive grassroots presence with over 800 offices nationwide.
He commended women journalists for their professionalism and contributions to national development through ethical reporting and voluntary service, while emphasising the need to deepen voter and civic education, particularly among young Nigerians.
According to him, the growing influence of digital media and foreign content is reshaping societal values, underscoring the urgency for structured civic engagement initiatives to promote national cohesion.
The NOA boss further disclosed that the agency has developed the Nigerian Identity Project under the National Values Charter, built 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 across all levels.
Issa-Onilu also revealed plans to boost local production of children’s content, targeting at least 70 per cent of cartoons consumed by Nigerian children to reflect indigenous culture and values.
He called for more strategic communication efforts to improve public perception and strengthen national unity, while advocating a shift from quota-based approaches to tackling systemic and cultural barriers that limit women’s participation in leadership.
In her remarks, NAWOJ National President, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the visit aimed to deepen collaboration in civic and voter education, ethical journalism, and combating misinformation ahead of the elections.
She proposed a joint NOA–NAWOJ initiative featuring nationwide training workshops, community outreach programmes targeting women and youth, development of civic education materials in local languages, and coordinated media campaigns to promote inclusive participation.
Also speaking, NAWOJ Board of Trustees member, Zubair Jide Atta, emphasised the importance of national values and civic orientation. He advocated stronger integration of media and information literacy into Nigeria’s education system.
The meeting ended with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration in promoting civic responsibility, national values, and inclusive governance as Nigeria approaches the next general elections.
