Backed by strategic partnerships and federal mandates, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is implementing community-driven solutions to safeguard women’s health, dignity, and future, writes MOYOSORE SALAMI.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) is redefining its role by championing the rights and health of women and girls in the heart of Nigeria’s South-West and South-South regions. Through targeted campaigns against cervical cancer, female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence (GBV), and sanitation-related health issues, NOA is fostering a new narrative, one where women and girls are informed, protected, and empowered.

In May 2024, the NOA in Cross River State collaborated with the state government and UNICEF to drive an intensive sensitisation campaign for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The effort, aimed at girls aged nine to 14, formed part of a broader public health push to prevent cervical cancer through early immunisation.

Over the course of the campaign, NOA played a frontline role in community engagement. Officers across schools, markets and local gathering raised awareness and corrected public misconceptions about the vaccine.

“We are here to inform you about the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)-sponsored vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, which is expected to be administered on girl children between the ages of nine and 14 years,” said NOA’s State Director, Elder Ibor Otu, during one of the sensitisation events.

The campaign was anchored by a Social Behaviour Change Committee formed by NOA and UNICEF, with the task of countering rumours and misinformation surrounding the HPV vaccine. Through local media, interpersonal outreach and stakeholder dialogue, the initiative successfully positioned the vaccine as a safe, life-saving intervention, particularly for vulnerable rural communities. The programme reinforced NOA’s reputation as a key player in translating global health interventions into local action.

Between March and May 2025, the NOA in Ondo State intensified its grassroots advocacy against gender-based violence and took significant steps to empower women and girls. In collaboration with the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria), NOA focused its intervention on Akure North and Ifedore Local Councils, locations flagged for their high prevalence of GBV cases.

The partnership brought field support, community sensitisation, and capacity-building to the forefront, helping local leaders and residents better understand the dangers of GBV and their roles in preventing it.

“We believe that our voice matters. And so, we are reaching out to communities with the right information,” noted a representative from the campaign, emphasising the importance of localised dialogue in reshaping mindsets.

NOA’s media engagement also took a bold leap during this period. In a bid to deepen civic awareness and provide enlightenment about government policies, the agency launched AGENDA, a weekly bilingual radio magazine programme in partnership with Radio Nigeria Positive 102.5 FM. Broadcast in English and Yoruba, AGENDA examines key Federal Government initiatives through interviews, expert analysis, and simplified commentary. It serves not only as a civic education tool, but also as a platform for challenging social norms that fuel inequality and misinformation.

In Ekiti State, the NOA has ramped up advocacy against female genital mutilation and poor sanitation, two persistent public health and human rights challenges in the state. The campaign, anchored in Ado-Ekiti, was a concerted push to reinforce the state’s stance against FGM and promote improved hygiene practices across local communities.

Addressing a multi-agency gathering that included representatives from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), NAFDAC, and state health officials, NOA’s State Director, Mrs Kemi Akomolede, made the agency’s position clear.

“NOA is committed to fully eradicating female genital mutilation/cutting, especially among women and children in Ekiti State,” she declared. Her remarks underscored the urgency of sustained behavioural change in the face of entrenched cultural norms.

In parallel, the campaign tackled the health risks associated with poor hygiene, linking sanitation awareness to broader themes of dignity and human rights. NOA’s grassroots strategy relied heavily on its network of community mobilisers and volunteers who facilitated outreach in rural areas, schools and religious institutions.

By drawing support from other government agencies, the initiative created a unified front to address both the physical and social consequences of harmful traditional practices and unhygienic environments.

Across Cross River, Ekiti, and Ondo states, the NOA has demonstrated that social transformation is not the result of grand gestures, but of sustained, community-driven action. From promoting HPV vaccination in adolescent girls to tackling female genital mutilation and poor sanitation, and amplifying the fight against gender-based violence, NOA’s activities reflect a strong convergence of health, human rights, and civic engagement.

Each campaign, while locally tailored, points to a national vision – building an informed citizenry that sees public health, dignity, and gender equality not as abstract goals but as lived realities.

What ties these state-level interventions together is a national strategy rooted in partnership. UNICEF, Radio Nigeria, local civil society groups, and even community monarchs have become key players in NOA’s efforts. This networked model of social change, where every actor has a role, reflects a pragmatic understanding of Nigeria’s complex socio-cultural terrain.

Yet, challenges remain. Deep-seated traditions, structural inequality, and gaps in infrastructure continue to limit the full impact of these campaigns. Misconceptions around vaccines, GBV, and FGM are often reinforced by social media and sometimes even by religious or political figures. And in many rural areas, the reach of government services is still thin.

But the road ahead is not without hope. The strength of NOA’s approach lies in its consistency and credibility. By showing up in communities, speaking in local languages, respecting cultural contexts while pushing for change, and collaborating across sectors, the agency is modelling a new kind of public leadership, one that listens before it leads.

It is also building local champions, from radio hosts to traditional leaders, who can sustain these conversations long after the initial campaigns end.

Ultimately, these interventions are not isolated successes; they are pieces of a larger puzzle, one in which identity, health, and the future of Nigeria’s youth are deeply intertwined. The work of reshaping societal norms is long and often thankless, but it is vital. In a country as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, the path to progress will not be linear. But if the work done so far is anything to go by, then NOA is not only holding the line, it is drawing new ones.