By Joy Odor | Abuja, Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness to deepen collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to bolster voter mobilisation, civic education, and overall public engagement ahead of the upcoming Anambra Governorship Election and the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, described the partnership between both agencies as pivotal to the Commission’s electoral mandate and Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.
“As Nigeria’s national election management body, our work is multi-stakeholder and inter-agency in nature. NOA remains one of our most critical institutional allies, especially given your wide reach across all Local Government Areas,” Yakubu said.
The INEC Chairman commended Issa-Onilu’s leadership and innovations at the NOA, including the establishment of the NOA Content Factory, NOA TV, NOA Radio, and The Explainer newsletter tools Yakubu described as vital for informed civic engagement.
He also highlighted NOA’s adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and youth-led national hackathons, which he believes present “tremendous opportunities for strategic communication.”
INEC, he added, has recently created its own Artificial Intelligence Division within the ICT Department and looks forward to exploring collaborative opportunities in that space.
Yakubu stressed the need for a united push toward voter mobilisation, noting that while INEC will continue its traditional voter education roles, NOA, working with political parties, civil society groups, and the media, should take the lead in motivating wider participation, especially among underrepresented groups like women, youths, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
“We are not just concerned with organising elections; we are committed to ensuring inclusive participation. NOA’s role in that regard is indispensable,” he said.
He revealed that NOA is now part of the expanded Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and will play a central role in the revitalised National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP).
The visit, according to him, comes at a critical juncture in INEC’s preparations for the Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which begins on August 18 with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25.
Yakubu concluded by assuring the NOA leadership of INEC’s full support.
“We are encouraged by the strides your new management is making. INEC remains committed to partnering with NOA to build a stronger and more participatory democracy.”
In his response, NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the time had come for the agency to take a more prominent role in civic and voter education, an area he described as even more critical than physical infrastructure development.
“We believe that building patriotic citizens is more important than building roads and bridges,” Issa-Onilu said. “Citizenship is not just a status; it must be nurtured through deliberate and sustained education.”
He called for a closer working relationship with INEC, proposing that while the Commission focuses on the logistics and conduct of elections, NOA should be empowered to take the lead on sustained voter education and democratic literacy.
“NOA has never been given the deserved recognition or resources for democracy education. Yet, it’s one of the most important things we do. Nigerians must understand democracy, not just as a system of government but as a shared responsibility.”
Issa-Onilu emphasized that patriotism cannot be enforced or legislated; rather, it must be inspired by purposeful governance and transparent communication. He warned that without psychologically connected citizens, national development efforts would ultimately falter.
“You can build all the roads and bridges, but if you don’t build your people, those same people will destroy what you’ve built,” he said. “Good governance, inclusion, and consistent communication are what motivate patriotism and unity.”
The NOA boss also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inclusive messaging and called on all tiers of government to be intentional in promoting shared national values that foster a sense of belonging.
“Without a united, value-driven citizenry, we cannot build a sustainable democracy. Our people must be the foundation.”
The visit marked a renewed commitment by both agencies to work collaboratively in bridging the gap between the government and citizens through inclusive, grassroots-oriented civic engagement and electoral reform.
