INEC, NOA Mull Partnership to Enhance Voter Education, Mobilisation

INEC, NOA Mull Partnership to Enhance Voter Education, Mobilisation

By JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have opened discussions on strengthening their partnership to enhance voter education and mobilise greater public participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said that the meeting highlighted the multi-stakeholder nature of election management in the country and the critical role of collaboration among national institutions.

“I am particularly glad that this meeting is at the instance of the DG in furtherance of the long-standing partnership between INEC and NOA.

“As the national election management body, we are aware that our responsibility is multi-stakeholder and inter-agency in nature. To succeed, we must engage all stakeholders and every national institution relevant to our mandate. One of such national institutions is the NOA,” Yakubu said.

He described the NOA as a central institution in citizen advocacy and sensitisation, pointing out that both agencies have grassroots presence across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, which positions them effectively for community-level engagement.

Congratulating Issa-Onilu on his appointment, Yakubu commended the agency’s recent initiatives, including the “NOA Content Factory” and its use of platforms like NOA TV, NOA Radio, and The Explainer newsletter.

He also praised the agency’s embrace of digital innovation, such as its national virtual hackathons and AI-powered data management strategies, as important tools for youth engagement and strategic communication.

“These platforms offer a promising avenue for informed and inclusive engagement with Nigerians.

“I would like us to explore further areas of partnership through our Voter Education & Publicity and other relevant departments, particularly with the recent creation by the Commission of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division under our ICT Department,” INEC Chairman stated.

He also stressed the need to intensify efforts in voter mobilisation, especially among under-represented groups such as youths, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

He urged the NOA to work closely with stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations and the media to boost voter turnout.

“It is for this reason that NOA has been included in the expanded membership of our Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

“The Commission is also making efforts to revamp the National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP), in which NOA will, again, play an active role,” INEC Chairman disclosed.

Professor Yakubu noted that the visit came at a crucial time, as INEC intensifies preparations for the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the 2027 General Election. He announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will commence soon, beginning with online pre-registration on August 18, followed by in-person registration on August 25, 2025.

Reaffirming the Commission’s readiness to partner with the NOA, the INEC Chairman said the agency’s renewed energy under its current leadership was encouraging. “Once again, I wish to reassure you of the Commission’s willingness to partner with NOA,” he concluded.