By Muhammad Mamman
In a dynamic move to enhance voter participation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have vowed to deepen their partnership, focusing on public awareness and mobilisation for upcoming elections.
The pledge was announced during a high-profile courtesy visit by NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu in Abuja. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Yakubu underscored the pivotal role of NOA in supporting INEC’s mission to conduct seamless elections through robust citizen sensitisation. “Our mandate thrives on informed and engaged citizens, and NOA is a cornerstone in this effort,” he stated.
With the Anambra governorship election slated for 8 November and a nationwide continuous voter registration set to kick off on 18 August, Mr Yakubu affirmed INEC’s readiness to collaborate closely with NOA. He praised the agency’s innovative initiatives, including national virtual hackathons, the NOA Content Factory, and platforms like NOA TV, NOA Radio, and The Explainer Newsletter. He also highlighted NOA’s adoption of AI-powered data management as a game-changer for targeted communication strategies.
“We’re keen to explore further collaboration, particularly through our voter education and publicity departments and our new Artificial Intelligence Division within the ICT department,” Mr Yakubu added. He urged NOA to work alongside political parties, civil society, media, and other stakeholders to drive voter mobilisation, with a focus on increasing turnout among underrepresented groups such as youths, women, and persons with disabilities.
To strengthen this partnership, NOA has been integrated into the expanded membership of INEC’s Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. Additionally, INEC is revitalising the National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity, where NOA will play a key role.
In his remarks, Mr Issa-Onilu stressed the need for joint efforts to bridge the awareness gap about INEC and NOA’s mandates at the grassroots level. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate, signalling a shared commitment to empowering Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process.
This renewed alliance promises to invigorate voter engagement and ensure a more inclusive electoral landscape as Nigeria gears up for critical polls.
