By Vivian DANIEL
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has described the National Orientation Agency (NOA) as the most technologically inclined in Nigeria.
He said the agency is taking the lead in the deployment of digital tools as well as embracing diversity andinclusion among Nigerians.
The minister said these at the just-concluded strategic repositioning retreat of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) titled “Extended Management Retreat on the Vision, Role and Expectations of the NOA in the Renewed Hope Programme.” It was held on 11-13 September 2024, at Thisday Dome, Abuja.
The NOA is one of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The minister, while flagging off the event, commended the Director-General of the NOA, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu and his management, saying their hard work is indeed yielding results, within and outside the institution itself. He hailed Issa-Onilu for being able to pull the agency’s four former DGs to the event, adding that it was am indication of enormous synergy that exists between them.
He also noted his first formal visit to the agency while reiterating the core functions of the NOA since its formation.
He said, “11 months ago I paid a formal visit to the Headquarters of the NOA and during that visit, I told the members of NOA the direction that the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was going in terms of reorienting the values of all Nigerians and what we are seeing today is a testament in that regard. Since then, so much has changed at the agency as there is a new DG now who assumed office very shortly after that inaugural visit of mine, who has put in a lot of work to reposition and re-energise the agency to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda and for the impactful vision of its founding fathers.”
“The NOA no doubt plays a very crucial role within the framework of information management, citizens engagement, and civic values in Nigeria. Since its establishment, the NOA has earned a reputation as one of the most robust grassroots-oriented public agencies in the country. In accomplishing its mandates, the NOA has become one of the most essential tools for shaping national narratives and propositions, promoting unity against the backdrop of diversity and fostering the essence of inclusiveness and belonging in every part of the country.
“As the world has evolved especially in the area of globalisation and technological innovation, so have the demands and expectations of Nigerians. The methods and strategies that may have been essential yesterday, may not necessarily be very effective today. It, therefore, has become very important to stay in tune at all times with the attitudes and expectations of all the stakeholders in this journey.
“I am pleased to note that the NOA, under the leadership of Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, has prioritised technology in the work of the agency in keeping with the realities of the 21st century. The NOA has become one of the most technology compliant agencies in Nigeria today, taking the lead in the deployment of digital tools and technologies. For example, the ‘Mobilizer App’ is using artificial intelligence platforms for seeking awareness and engagements among other initiatives.”
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Issa-Onilu, noted the aims of the retreat which were to strategise and enhance the agency’s capabilities through a shared vision to deliver on their dual mandate of communicating government policies, programmes, and projects and lead Nigeria’s quest for a common national identity through value orientation.
“Over the past ten months, we have diligently revamped NOA’s structures and platforms. This was a crucial step in revitalising our personnel and tools, which had been adversely affected by years of government neglect. It’s disheartening that such a vital institution was allowed to languish, but we are now on the path to rejuvenation, filling us all with hope and positivity.
“NOA is undergoing a significant restructuring and demonstrating its adaptability to the changing population landscape. Nigeria had a more balanced demographic during the MAMSER era. However, in the last three decades, the Nigerian demographics have shifted dramatically, with youths 45 years and below constituting 93% of the country’s population. This profound shift has not gone unnoticed by NOA, and we are actively adjusting our strategies to effectively engage this new majority.
“Not only are the youths in the dominant majority now, but they are also in control of the new media. The new channels of engagement and networking come with a new level of empowerment and control that did not exist in 1991. No YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Linkedln, or other communication vehicles existed when MAMSER reigned. Communication was linear, distinguishing between those who generate and disseminate content and those who receive it. Not even the now-popular radio phone-in was in existence. Today, not anymore. Anyone can be a player in content generation and deployment, giving the youth and the public a voice and a platform to be heard,” he emphasised.
Issa-Onilu appreciated the tremendous efforts of the past directors-general of NOA, without which the agency’s modest achievements so far would have been impossible. He noted that the NOA has been proactive in the last 10 months, embarking on massive retooling and building on the foundation his predecessors laid. According to the DG, the new NOA television and radio studios are ready. The studios will enhance the agency’s capacity to produce news, features, analysis, and sectoral programmes on government policies.
“We understand the need for modern platforms that can assist us in interacting with Nigerians. Towards realising this need, on Wednesday, March 20, the Hon. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, launched the NOA Mobile App, Mobiliser, in Kano. The Mobiliser has many crucial features for engaging with Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian youths. The Mobiliser app, available for download on both the Play Store and Apple Store, has also strengthened our ability to deliver on our mandate to generate citizens’ feedback for the government.”
“The Explainer Newsletter Magazine is another engagement platform that NOA has implemented in the last four months. Taking advantage of our presence in every corner of the country, we have built enormous data resources. For instance, we have the contact details of thousands of chairpersons and secretaries of trade, artisanal, community development organisations, and civil societies in all the local government areas, through whom we are reaching their numerous members, such as the yam sellers, onion sellers, farmers, barbers, tailors, electricians, auto mechanics, carpenter, okada riders, vulcanisers, etc.). We are soon to commence the deployment of strategic audiovisual materials on government policies and programmes targeting millions of members of these associations in different languages,” he assured.
“But we are even further ahead in applying modern technologies to enhance our work. On July 1, we launched NOA’s Artificial Intelligence Voice and Chat Assistant, CLHEEAN. CLHEEAN is an innovative solution to the challenges posed by the new media landscape. It is an acronym for the NOA’s thematic activities on Crime, Lawlessness, Health, Education, Environment, Abuse, and Nationalism. It encapsulates NOA’s commitment to tackling various issues that would clean Nigeria of societal and behavioural ills. Nigerians can engage and interact with CLHEEAN. CLHEEAN can answer questions about government policies, programmes, and projects and provide information about citizens’ rights and responsibilities. CLHEEAN is on your mobile devices and computers to meet your information needs. CLHEEAN is an ideal citizen and soon-to-be-launched Superhero who will demonstrate what it is like to be a real Nigerian,” he reiterated.
The Nigerian Television Authority’s former directors-general, Dr. Tonnie Iredia and Alhaji Idi Faruk, delivered goodwill messages. Iredia noted the need to have the National Orientation Agency in every nook and cranny of the country not just in the states for its important and enormous roles to be fulfilled while Faruk, said “The strength of the NOA is in the field. Its studio is in the marketplaces – in the streets.”
A former Director-General of the NOA, Mr Mike Omeri said the biggest mistake any government will make is to scrap the NOA as stated in the Oronsaye’s Report. He suggested that the agency should be promoted into a Commission and should be directly under the Office of the President like the Department for Public Information in the USA, which he said does a similar job.
Likewise, a former deputy director at NOA, Alhaji Garba Abari, said, “Mine is a word of encouragement because the stakes are usually higher, so also the challenges which must be addressed. Every aspect of our national lives needs orientation. The initiative by the current DG to deploy technology is the most appropriate response.”
During the resource persons and keynote speakers’ session, Mr Celestine Achi, the developer of the Mobilizer App and an expert in digital communication and artificial intelligence, took the audience through an IT interactive session on how the NOA Mobile App – Mobilizer works; while Dr Umar Bindir, former Special Adviser to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Adamawa State, took the audience through his latest invention called “K-Allo” – The Education Tablet that can embody about five thousand applications with different features like music, tutorial videos on how to produce everyday meals anywhere in the world and other enterprises.
He said, “The states and local government areas, which have over 70% of the Nigerian population, should be supported in the NOA innovation agenda. The tertiary institutions must become productive and industrial centres which is the real systems evolution needed nowadays.”
At the panel sessions, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Professor of Mass Communication, Baze University; Dr Otive Igbuzor, former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, 9th Assembly; Dr Monday Ekpe, a lecturer at the University of Abuja; Mr Emma Agu, pioneer Editor of the Champion Newspapers all spoke on what the NOA can do in its value reorientation to improve the lives of Nigerians across all strata while urging the NOA management to lead by example.
Also, two Dlirectors of the NOA, Mr David Akoji – Director, Special Duties and State Operations and Mr Nuru Kobi – Director, Planning, Research and Strategies spoke on Team Building and Strengthening Reporting Practices for Effective Service Delivery, respectively.
Other dignitaries who were present at the event include the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Kenneth Eze, Prof. Jerry Gana, former director-general of defunct MAMSER, Alhaji Ali M Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, among others.
The audience was treated with spoken words by Sarkari Emmanuel and Blessing Kunle; alongside cultural dancers, a quiz session about the activities on the NOA Mobilizer App, a mocktail dinner and comedian performances.
The event came to an end on the third day, being scheduled for a picnic where all the directors and deputy directors of the agency had fun in an unofficial environment, all geared to rejuvenate and refresh them to deliver more success stories for the tasks ahead.
