The National Orientation Agency (NOA), established by Decree 100 of 1993, has the responsibility of enlightening the Nigeria populace on the programmes and policies of government, to ensure participation of the citizenry in the implementation of such policies and programmes aimed to better the lots of all and sundry.
It is a replica of sort of the Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), created by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babagida military regime on the July, 25, 1987.
As the national voice, the NOA is saddled with the role of making Nigeria a respected ally among the comity of nations as well as among her citizens. By this, the agency must be available and make its presence felt in every nook and cranny of the country by engaging the people as participants in the activities and implementation of government policies and programmes.
In its mission statement, NOA declares “To consistently raise awareness proved timely and credible feedback, positively charge attitudes, values, behaviours, accurately and adequately inform and sufficiently mobilise citizens to act in ways that promote peace, harmony, and national development.”
With the aforementioned mission, the objectives would no doubt be numerous given the position Nigeria occupies in the continent and the global assemblage. Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, and largest country in Africa. This natural status places on her enormous responsibility first as a leader in Africa and second as an ambassador of the black nation in the world, hence the NOA’s role becomes more relevant and inevitable in the quest for building a virile nation respected globally.
Among others, the main objectives include: Mobilise favourable public opinion for such programs and policies, establish feedback channels to government on all aspects of Nigerian national life, encourage informal education through public enlightenment activities and publications, fostering respect for constituted authority; and instilling in the citizens a sense of loyalty to the fatherland.
Furthermore, it’s established to appreciate national framework for educating, orientating and inculcating in Nigerians the attitude, values and culture which project individual’s national pride.
It also has the mandate of awakening the consciousness of Nigerians to their responsibilities to the promotion of national unity, citizens’ commitment to their human rights to build a free, just, and progressive society; ensure and uphold leadership by example; develop among Nigerians of all ages and sex, social and cultural values and awareness which will inculcate the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline and self-reliance.
However, thirty-two years down the line, the agency has not made its impact felt among the populace, until the coming of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. As Nigerians, and like any other agency of government, NOA has had its own share of attention, support, neglect and abandonment depending on the government of the day and disposition to the activities of the agency.
As it’s stated in both the mission and objectives of the agency, the promotion of new sets of attitudes and new culture towards attaining a united Nigeria as well as prioritising leadership by example, are core objectives of the agency that must be vigorously pursued.
However, it’s regrettable that the agency leadership over the years, had not been able to make desirable impacts in the attainment of the goals and objectives set for herself.
Since the time of Professor Jerry Gana’s MAMSER, not much was heard of the supposed national voice until recently when a rebranded NOA regained the national voice and gradually launched itself back into national reckoning, taking back its enviable position as the ear, eye and voice of both the government and the people.
The new leadership under Malam Lanre Issa Onillu, has done creditably well in reviving the slumbering agency to an active and agile government outfit, drawing various segments of arms of government and relevant stakeholders in the polity to get involved in the reorientation and instilling patriotism in the citizenry. It also leads by example as against an armchair leader that sits back in office to dish out instructions.
The current NOA helmsman has shown that leadership by example is the hallmark of a worthy leader and teamwork as the strength, a feat that has become noticeable since Issa-Onilu assumed office. In leadership just as in public service, the power of any administrator lies in the power of teamwork, a legacy the current headship exhibits in the handling of affairs of the agency in almost two years in the saddle.
Issa-Onilu who has not claimed monopoly of knowledge and ideas, has continually engaged relevant stakeholders in the Nigeria project, including the traditional institution, the custodian of our culture and traditions. His focus on the traditional institution as the pivot around which the agency’s activities revolve, speaks volume and aptly demonstrates a better understanding of the task ahead and the way to go in making it effective through teamwork, that together we can regain the country’s drifting glory.
There is no doubting the fact that the challenges are enormous and the task ahead numerous. However, if the current tempo of engagement can be sustained and new frontiers broken, the fast-fading values and norms as well as the unpatriotic attitudes that have taken over our national pride, shall in no time be regained and the journey to Nigeria of our dreams will be shortened to a reasonable distance.
The ongoing engagement in the mass media and advocacy on various issues of national interests and social vices such as corruption at all levels, drug trafficking to drug addiction, human trafficking, internet frauds, kidnapping and banditry, money laundering, fake drug racketeering, and smuggling among other vices, will be reduced to the barest minimum if not totally eliminated.
In their place, government’s efforts to revamp the dwindling economy, make up for the infrastructure, rejigging the security architecture, promoting peaceful co-existence and safe guarding the national honour through robust policies among others, will come in their place. Therefore, the decision by the NOA to partner various agencies in combatting the various social ills, is commendable and should be sustained.
Other agencies of government whose roles are required in fulfilling this mandate must make their services readily available and unhindered, it’s with this synergy that the efforts by the government and critical stakeholders can achieve the expected results.
The NOA boss was quoted as recently saying that for “the agency to fulfil it’s mandate, a free society , government and law enforcement agencies must strengthen intelligence -led enforcement, increase penalties for drug traffickers, and improve the capacity to dismantle synthetic drug production and supply chains.”
This clarion call by the agency needs patriotic response from all and sundry. As the NOA leads the campaign and showing the path to follow, other stakeholders must show the readiness and join hands with the agency in this fight against the societal ills to reduce the crime rate within our country.
Recent studies across the country show that drug abuse has taken an alarming dimension with young boys and girls being central to this dangerous trend. Worrisome is the high consumption of synthetic drug such as methamphetamine, fentanyl and other manufactured substances which are more potent, cheaper and deadlier. Many students and young individuals engage in experimental drug use that gradually develops into dependency and high-risk behavior, increase their vulnerability to crime, violence, and mental health disorder.
The consequence of this is engaging in violence crimes including cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and sexual violence, thus becoming a catalyst for border social unrest and instability.
The effect of this trend on our country if not checked, is losing our young population to drug dependency. To stem this dangerous tide, all hands must be on deck and the war against it must be everyone’s business. While the government must continue to sustain its awareness campaign on the danger inherent in the consumption of synthetic drugs, leaders, traditional rulers, opinion moulders, religious leaders and community-based organization to mobilize against the peddlers in our various domains and their agents.
In the same vein strengthening of legal framework and enforcement must be carried out with dispatch and provision of rehabilitation centers for victims of addiction to be back up by legislation at various levels should be established across the country , while the running and maintenance of these centres should be joint responsibility of both the state and local governments for proper coordination.
Only with this type of synergy can the efforts by the NOA make appreciable impacts and achieve the desired results of an egalitarian society where principle of equality will reign supreme.