ABUJA, NIGERIA – Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to deepen its collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enhance voter education, mobilisation, and public engagement ahead of the Anambra Governorship Election in November 2025 and the 2027 General Elections. The commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, described the partnership 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,” Professor Yakubu stated.
He commended Mr. 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, which he sees as “vital for informed civic engagement.” Professor Yakubu also highlighted NOA’s adoption of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and youth-led national hackathons, noting these present “tremendous opportunities for strategic communication.” He added that INEC has recently created its own Artificial Intelligence Division and looks forward to exploring collaborative opportunities in that space.
Professor Yakubu stressed the need for a united push towards voter mobilisation, clarifying 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, particularly among underrepresented groups such as 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 comes at a critical juncture, with preparations underway for the Anambra Governorship Election on November 8, 2025, and the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise set to begin on August 18 with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25. Professor Yakubu concluded by assuring the NOA leadership of INEC’s full support, stating, “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 response, Lanre Issa-Onilu, NOA Director-General, asserted that the time has 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, adding, “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 election logistics and conduct, NOA should be empowered to 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.”
Mr. Issa-Onilu emphasised that patriotism cannot be enforced but must be inspired by purposeful governance and transparent communication, warning that “without psychologically connected citizens, national development efforts would ultimately falter.” He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inclusive messaging and urged all tiers of government to intentionally promote shared national values that foster a sense of belonging, concluding, “Without a united, value-driven citizenry, we cannot build a sustainable democracy. Our people must be the foundation.”
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