2027: NOA Seeks Stronger Collaboration With NAWOJ On Civic Education.

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

NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by NAWOJ, describing the engagement as timely and strategic for national development and democratic consolidation.

In a statement issued by the Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa, the NOA boss stressed that effective nation building requires sustained partnerships among institutions responsible for public communication and citizen engagement.

He noted that the agency, which evolved from the former MAMSER framework, operates a wide grassroots network with over 800 offices nationwide.

Issa-Onilu highlighted NOA’s mandate in information management and civic orientation, commending women journalists for their patriotism and contributions to national development through ethical journalism and voluntary service.

He underscored the urgency of strengthening voter and civic education among young Nigerians, noting that a large segment of the population is under 35. According to him, growing digital influences and foreign media content are reshaping societal values, making structured civic engagement increasingly important.

The Director-General also disclosed that NOA has developed the Nigerian Identity Project under the National Values Charter, anchored on a “seven-for-seven” principle outlining reciprocal responsibilities between government and citizens.

He added that the Federal Executive Council has approved key components, including the reintroduction of Citizenship Studies into school curricula at all levels to promote national values.

He further 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.

Issa-Onilu called for more strategic use of communication resources to enhance public perception and national cohesion, while advocating 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 aimed to strengthen collaboration in civic and voter education, ethical journalism, and the fight against misinformation ahead of the elections.

She proposed a joint NOA–NAWOJ initiative to 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 inclusive participation.

Also speaking, NAWOJ Board of Trustees member, Zubair Jide Atta, emphasised the importance of national values and civic orientation. He reflected on the evolution of Nigeria’s National Anthem and advocated stronger integration of media and information literacy into the education system.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both NOA and NAWOJ to deepen collaboration in promoting civic responsibility, national values, and inclusive governance as Nigeria prepares for the upcoming elections.