INEC, NOA to Deepen Partnership on Voter Mobilisation, Public Enlightenment
Concisedailynews – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) are set to intensify collaboration on public sensitisation and voter mobilisation efforts across Nigeria.
Both institutions seek to strengthen civic participation in the electoral process.
This renewed commitment emerged during a strategic engagement held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, where the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, led a delegation of senior officials on a courtesy visit to the Commission.
Addressing the NOA team, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, emphasised that successful elections go beyond logistics and administration, requiring strategic partnerships with national institutions that engage directly with citizens at the grassroots.
“For INEC to deliver on its mandate, we must work closely with agencies like the NOA that have direct access to communities across the 774 local government areas,” Yakubu stated.
The INEC chief underscored the critical role of public enlightenment in driving voter participation, noting that while the Commission will continue its voter education campaigns, the NOA’s widespread presence and influence make it a key partner in mobilising Nigerians especially women, youths, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
He also highlighted emerging areas of synergy, including the Commission’s newly established Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division, which he said could benefit from NOA’s communication networks and public engagement expertise.
“In addition to our collaboration on voter education, we must deepen our joint efforts in voter mobilisation, working in tandem with political parties, civil society, and the media,” Yakubu added.
He further announced plans to revamp the National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP), where NOA is expected to play an active role. The agency has also been integrated into the expanded Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), signalling its growing importance in INEC’s stakeholder engagement strategy.
Reaffirming the Commission’s readiness to deepen institutional ties, Professor Yakubu commended the NOA’s new leadership for its proactive outreach and expressed optimism that the partnership would yield measurable results in future elections.
