NOA Launches Nationwide Enlightenment Campaign in Kwara, Prioritizes Policy Awareness, Flood Mitigation and National Values
The Kwara State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has formally flagged off a comprehensive nationwide enlightenment and sensitization campaign aimed at strengthening the bond between government and citizens. The initiative was launched on Friday with a press conference held at the agency’s state headquarters in Ilorin.
The programme, described as one of the most robust civic education drives in recent years, focuses on five thematic areas of national importance. These include government policies, programmes and activities; flood mitigation; national security awareness; values re-orientation for students; and the Nigerian identity project with emphasis on national symbols.
Representing the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, at the event was Dr. Olukemi Afolayan, Deputy Director of Civic, Values and Democracy Education from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
In her address, Dr. Afolayan stressed that the campaign was conceived as a direct response to the communication gap that often exists between government policies and public understanding. She noted that building citizens’ awareness and participation remains key to effective governance.
“The National Orientation Agency has the statutory mandate to sensitize Nigerians on government programmes and policies. With this campaign, we are adopting a boots-on-the-ground approach to ensure that every citizen across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and all 774 local government areas is adequately informed and carried along in the task of nation-building,” she explained.
Dr. Afolayan went further to highlight some of the flagship government initiatives that the campaign intends to simplify and promote for public benefit. She cited the NELDUND Student Loan Scheme, which has already disbursed more than ₦59 billion to students in public tertiary institutions across the country.
She also drew attention to the expansion of social safety nets through Conditional Cash Transfers and the provision of interest-free loans to traders and farmers. According to her, these programmes are designed to cushion economic hardship and empower vulnerable groups.
Other initiatives mentioned include the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund targeted at renovating rural schools, as well as the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) and the Industrial Training Fund’s SUPA project, both aimed at equipping young Nigerians with entrepreneurial and artisanal skills.
On the issue of flood mitigation, Dr. Afolayan urged residents of Kwara State and Nigerians in general to pay close attention to early warning advisories regularly issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). She said preventive measures at the community level were critical to reducing the impact of floods.
The campaign also dedicates attention to national security awareness. Dr. Afolayan noted that insecurity remained a pressing challenge, adding that the agency’s drive seeks to promote vigilance, civic responsibility and improved collaboration between communities and security agencies.
In his welcome remarks, the State Director of NOA in Kwara, Alhaji Dare Abdulganiyu, underscored the role of the media as a crucial partner in the enlightenment process. He said the campaign would only succeed if journalists amplified the messages beyond urban centres to the grassroots.
“The success of this campaign hinges on effective partnership with the media. We count on you to be our amplifiers, carrying these important messages on government policies, national values, and security awareness to every corner of Kwara State,” Alhaji Dare remarked.
The press conference featured an interactive session where journalists from NTA, NAN, Radio Nigeria, Sobi FM, Radio Kwara, and the Herald Newspaper raised questions on implementation strategies. Concerns ranged from the accessibility of the student loan scheme, to localized flood prevention efforts, and the modalities of values re-orientation programmes in secondary schools.
According to the organisers, the enlightenment drive will not be confined to press briefings alone. Instead, it will be executed through a blend of approaches such as town hall meetings, advocacy visits to traditional rulers and religious leaders, school sensitization engagements, rallies in motor parks and markets, and road shows across all 16 local government areas of Kwara State.
The campaign is expected to run throughout the year, with periodic evaluation to measure its effectiveness in bridging the communication gap between government and citizens. Officials say the ultimate goal is to deepen trust, encourage civic participation, and foster a stronger sense of national identity.
By initiating the campaign in Kwara State, NOA has signaled its determination to make enlightenment a cornerstone of good governance, while empowering communities with the knowledge they need to play active roles in national development.