ISA-ONILU’S REFORM TRANSFORMS NOA INTO NIGERIA’S HUB OF PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) is witnessing a new era of dynamism and relevance under the leadership of its Director-General, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, whose reform initiatives are redefining how government connects with the people. The agency, long seen as the nation’s conscience and mobilizer, is now regaining its voice as a leading force in public education and civic awareness.
A major highlight of the reform is the launch of “The Explainer,” a weekly publication designed to simplify government policies, programmes, and national issues for public understanding. Its expanded edition, “The Explainer Plus,” now features in national newspapers, serving as a reliable source of clarity and transparency in governance. Through these platforms, citizens are better informed, while misinformation and apathy are being gradually replaced with engagement and trust.
In an effort to strengthen civic engagement beyond the recently concluded 2025 National Campus Debate, NOA is set to launch an Artificial Intelligence-powered mobile application known as CLHEEAN. The app, already available on iOS and soon to be released on the Android Play Store, is designed as a real-time feedback tool for citizens to access information on government activities, report challenges in their communities, and connect with public institutions for timely solutions.
Speaking on the innovation, Mallam Isa-Onilu said the app would deepen citizen participation and bridge communication gaps between the government and the people. He urged young Nigerians to stay informed and actively engage through NOA’s official website and social media platforms, emphasizing the virtues of integrity, discipline, and patriotism both in their studies and beyond. The DG also cautioned youths against involvement in cultism, drug abuse, and other unwholesome practices, describing them as alien to the nation’s culture and destructive to the society.
The Chairman of the Debate Organising Committee, Mr. David Akoji, noted that the contest provided not only a platform for promoting civic values but also an avenue for fostering leadership and national unity among Nigerian youth. The Campus Debate, he added, aligns perfectly with NOA’s mission of nurturing responsible citizens committed to building a better Nigeria.
With these reforms spanning civic education, strategic publications, digital innovation, and grassroots partnerships, the NOA under Mallam Isa-Onilu is redefining public orientation in the 21st century. The agency is steadily emerging as the nation’s foremost engine of civic enlightenment and responsible citizenship.
