Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday hosted the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and senior members of his team at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, in a renewed effort to strengthen their partnership ahead of major electoral activities.
The engagement is part of a broader strategy to boost public awareness, civic engagement, and communication as preparations intensify for the Anambra Governorship Election and the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking during the meeting, Malam Issa-Onilu reaffirmed NOA’s role in promoting unity and national development by ensuring Nigerians are properly informed about government programmes and policies. He stressed the agency’s commitment to cultivating responsible citizenship and encouraging Nigerians to uphold their civic duties.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Yakubu congratulated Issa-Onilu on his new role and acknowledged the importance of a closer working relationship between both bodies in mobilising voters and educating citizens, especially in communities where electoral participation remains low.
“Our responsibility in organising elections goes beyond logistics—it requires public awareness and sustained engagement,” the INEC boss said. “The nationwide reach of NOA, its digital capabilities including the Content Factory, and the application of AI tools make your agency a strategic ally in this mission.”
Prof. Yakubu also paid tribute to the late Hon. Ahmed Makama, former Chairman of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission, who previously served as an NOA official and held the position of Resident Electoral Commissioner in two states.
He noted that coordination between INEC and NOA could be further enhanced through joint platforms such as the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and the reactivated National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP).
The meeting comes just weeks before the rollout of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), scheduled to begin with online pre-registration on August 18, followed by physical registration starting August 25.
Yakubu assured that INEC is prepared to work with NOA to encourage greater public involvement in the electoral process.
“We are committed to deepening our cooperation so that every eligible Nigerian is not only aware but actively participates in choosing their leaders,” he said.
