Sometimes, it’s difficult to keep up with the number of agencies in Nigeria, much less be informed on what their duties and responsibilities are. In this article, we’ll be shedding light on an agency founded in 1993 with the major role of promoting national unity, patriotism, and the advancement of Nigerian society.
What’s this agency?
On August 10, 1993, the military government of General Ibrahim Babaginda established the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which is currently under Garba Abari leadership.
It’s an arm of the Ministry of Information, and its main objective is to ensure that government policies and programmes are better understood by the general public. They also work to mobilise favourable public opinions towards these policies and ensure that Nigerians across all ethnicities and ages develop social values promoting patriotism and nationalism.
Some functions of the National Orientation Agency include:
- Mobilisation of favourable public opinion and support for government policies, activities and programmes.
- Educate Nigerians on their rights, privileges, responsibilities and obligations as citizens.
- Encouraging and promoting the spirit of dignity of labour and commitment to the production and consumption of home-grown commodities and services.
- Propagate the need to avoid all vices in public life, which includes corruption, dishonesty, and electoral and census malpractice.
- Sensitize Nigerians for positive patriotic participation in national affairs and issues.
- Re-orient citizens about power, its use, and the proper role of government in serving the collective interests of Nigerians.
The NOA has worked on issues ranging from health to encouraging nationalism, discouraging electoral malpractice, and rehabilitating repentant insurgents.
Let’s look at some of the campaigns conducted by the NOA.
Great People, Great Nation
When Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili was the Minister of Information and Communications in March 2009, she was the driving force behind the “Great People, Great Nation” campaign.
The campaign was created to rebrand the country and reject negative labels used to describe Nigeria and Nigerians by the Western media. There were also hopes that it would foster a new sense of commitment in Nigerians towards righting wrongs and creating a better country.
Change Begins With Me
In an effort to promote integrity and accountability among Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari led this campaign
To drive home the campaign’s point, the federal government collaborated with the private sector to sponsor campaigns to reach the public.
National Campaign Against Fake News
The current Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, launched this campaign in July 2018.
Its primary objective was to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers posed to national peace and security by spreading fake news.
Operation Safe Corridor Programme
This programme was established in 2016 to rehabilitate, deradicalise, and integrate voluntary and repentant defectors from the Boko Haram terrorist group. Although the effectiveness of this programme is still in doubt as Northern Nigeria is still suffering from insecurity, about 2167 repentant Boko Haram members have graduated from the programme.
The National Orientation Agency fosters peace and national unity in Nigeria, and looking at the country’s current state, the importance of this agency cannot be overstated.
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