The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have strengthened their partnership on civic education and voter awareness as part of efforts to address voter apathy and deepen democratic participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The renewed commitment was made on Wednesday when the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, received the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja
Speaking during the meeting, Prof. Amupitan described the engagement as more than a routine visit, saying it represented a convergence of two institutions with constitutional mandates to educate Nigerians and promote democratic values.
He stressed that strengthening democracy requires not only technological innovation and efficient election management but also informed and active citizen participation.
“INEC cannot build a robust democracy in isolation. We can purchase the finest BVAS machines, optimize the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and improve our logistics, but all these achievements mean little if citizens remain detached, cynical or uneducated about the power of their votes,” he said.
According to him, NOA remains a critical partner because of its extensive grassroots network and capacity to communicate directly with communities across the country.
The INEC Chairman identified voter apathy, misinformation and inadequate understanding of electoral processes as major challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy, calling for sustained collaboration between both institutions.
He advocated a continuous, community-based voter education campaign that extends beyond election seasons and reaches youths, rural dwellers, traditional institutions and civil society organisations.
Prof. Amupitan also pointed to recent electoral exercises as evidence of improvements in election management, particularly in biometric accreditation, result transmission and polling unit administration.
However, he noted that the experiences equally underscored the need for deeper civic education, especially among first-time voters and young Nigerians, to enhance their understanding of democratic rights and responsibilities.
Earlier, the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, commended INEC for its commitment to strengthening the nation’s electoral process and promoting democratic ideals.
“Democracy is the principle and the metric upon which this country either survives or fails. The right of citizens to decide who will lead them is something we must protect and promote,” he said.
Issa-Onilu observed that the growing youth population in the country makes sustained voter education and democratic enlightenment more critical than ever.
He expressed concern over the knowledge gap among citizens regarding electoral processes, stressing the need for stronger institutional collaboration to bridge the divide.
The NOA boss said the agency’s nationwide presence positions it to engage effectively with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, transport unions, civil society groups and other community stakeholders.
He explained that the agency’s mandate extends beyond publicising government programmes to promoting patriotism, national values and responsible citizenship.
“NOA cannot do it all alone, but NOA can lead the way,” he stated.
Issa-Onilu called for closer cooperation between INEC’s voter education department and NOA’s Civic Values and Democracy Education structures to increase voter participation, combat misinformation and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 polls.
