The Giant Strides of Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu as D.G. NOA
By Emma Ibediro
Abuja (Core Reporters) As a young man growing up, it was always a delight to listen to the jingles of Professor Jerry Gana: “If you are a President, President well; if you are a Senator, Senator well; if you are a Carpenter, carpenter well,” etc. It was a clarion call for commitment to nation-building. It was from the Federal Ministry of Information. We had a National Orientation Agency headed by Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi. The impact of the National Orientation Agency was felt all over the country. Those were the days of MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery).
Then, the Agency went the way of many government agencies. It suffered neglect. It became moribund. It went into a coma. In 2023, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, fished for and picked a thoroughbred professional, a seasoned journalist, and a consummate technocrat to resuscitate the very crucial Agency. It is very interesting and indeed gratifying to see how Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has, within a short period, revived this Agency. Today, national consciousness and pride in our country are witnessing a resurgence.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, as Director General of NOA, is intentional in thought and actions. He has worked assiduously to put the necessary framework in place to restore pride in one’s nation. The consciousness has been taken to an admirable height. Through carefully crafted television and radio programs, jingles, and advertorials, the good works of the government are being disseminated seamlessly and convincingly. They are packaged in very captivating and appealing messages that are very penetrating.
The “I am a real Nigerian” jingle is a deeply penetrating message that resonates well with our efforts at national consciousness. Citizens must learn to see the nation from a positive angle at all times. Indeed, “You cannot see the light if you keep your eyes closed.” So many positive things have happened in the life of this administration, but the naysayers who prefer to close their eyes to these developments will deliberately refuse to see them. Their hate for the leaders blinds them to the good works being done. But Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has persevered despite challenges to drive the good messages home. He enjoins Nigerians to see our cup as half-full instead of half-empty. We must continue to be proud, resilient, and accountable Nigerians.
The activities and programs of government have continued to be disseminated to the citizens through short but insightful visuals and audio on television and radio. The Captain Excellence and the delightful children provide, in practical terms, information and availability of the Student Loan being championed by the Federal Government through NELFUND. The “Save Energy and Water” campaign could not have come at a better time, now that energy conservation is key to development. Timely warnings on flooding and other natural climate changes save citizens’ lives and properties.
When the new National Anthem was introduced, the National Orientation Agency, through sustained campaigns, took it to all the nooks and crannies of the country. In the print media, he has brought to bear his knowledge and experience as a seasoned editor to pilot the publication of the Explainer journal. The Explainer has brought the programs and projects of Government to the doorstep of every Nigerian. This weekly publication has brought to an end the speculations associated with government programs and the reasons behind them. Now, you have them at your fingertips.
The D.G. is not a man limited by analogue bureaucracy. He is in tune with digital realities of our time. Little wonder he has developed an AI chatbot, CLHEEAN. This chatbot provides an opportunity for Nigerians to seek information on government policies, programs, and activities through voice or chat assistant right on their devices. This is currently available on (link unavailable)
Indeed, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, as Director General of the National Orientation Agency, has revived the once-comatose Information and Orientation Agency into a giant Information megaphone. However, it is my opinion that these efforts should be encouraged. The need to establish a desk in all government departments as an NOA desk cannot be overemphasized. In this day of technology, an NOA desk equipped with a mobile telephone and internet-enabled laptop to receive information and forward it to a central database should be considered and encouraged.
Secondly, the once-popular but now moribund MAMSER ‘army’ should be established in all the States and Local Government Areas and assigned the duties of maintenance of civil order, control of traffic, and related matters. This set of thoroughly trained MAMSER officials will harmonize the haphazard activities of the untrained local government officials in maintaining social order and sanity. Certainly, it will be cost-demanding, but every society is rated by the behavior of its people. It will also be a huge avenue for employment of our unemployed youths, especially in the Local Government Areas. There is no point in emphasizing that in today’s Nigeria, the Police and Civil Defence Corps have not lived up to the expected standard in the discharge of their duties in this regard, specifically in the management of social order.
Thirdly, the National Orientation Agency should be encouraged to take over the various moribund information units of the Local Government Councils. Equipping these NOA-driven information units with outside broadcast vans and film projectors will bring to an end the hitherto inability of information about government activities reaching the grassroots. I still recall with nostalgia when information officers moved from community to community, disseminating information about government activities in local languages and captivating visuals for the information, education, and entertainment of the locals at village squares or community town halls. Nobody can fault this strategy.
Nigeria is good; Nigeria can be better if we adopt the right attitude. Nigeria can become the best if we develop a conscious love for our country. The National Orientation Agency under Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu is working.
Written by Emma Ibediro, Former National Organizing Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC).”
