By Joy Onu
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for closer collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to deepen civic education, promote national values and encourage responsible citizen participation as Nigeria prepares for the next general elections.
Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call during a courtesy visit by NAWOJ leaders, describing the engagement as timely and important for strengthening democratic culture and national development.
Issa-Onilu explained that nation-building requires sustained partnerships between institutions responsible for public communication and organisations that help shape public opinion. He noted that the agency maintains an extensive grassroots presence with more than 800 offices nationwide.
According to him, the agency’s mandate covers not only information dissemination but also civic orientation and national identity building among citizens. He commended women journalists for their patriotism and contributions to national development through responsible journalism and voluntary community engagement.
The NOA chief stressed the importance of strengthening civic and voter education among young Nigerians, noting that a significant proportion of the country’s population is under 35. He warned that the growing influence of digital platforms and foreign media content is increasingly shaping societal values, sometimes negatively.
Issa-Onilu disclosed that the agency is implementing 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 the reintroduction of Citizenship Studies into school curricula across various levels of education.
He further revealed plans to promote increased local production of children’s media content, with a target of ensuring that at least 70 per cent of cartoons watched by Nigerian children reflect indigenous culture and values.
Earlier, NAWOJ National President, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration on voter education, ethical journalism and the fight against misinformation ahead of the elections. She proposed joint initiatives including nationwide training workshops, community outreach programmes targeting women and youths, civic education materials in local languages and coordinated media campaigns to encourage informed participation in the democratic process.
