The National Orientation Agency (NOA) is helping the country amplify voices that for too long were muffled, writes MICHAEL EGBEJULE.

In a sunlit community hall in Akure, Ondo State, sat women from various walks of life – traders, students, teachers, and traditional leaders. Shoulder to shoulder, notebooks open and ears attentive. Behind the speaker’s podium was a banner bearing the inscription: ‘Gender Equity for National Development- NOA Speaks for All’.

The gathering is one of many across Nigeria’s Southwest and South-South zones, where the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is rewriting the story of gender inclusion.

Since 2023, the NOA has launched a coordinated and culturally-rooted campaign to make gender equity a lived reality across diverse communities. The agency’s strategy is a three-pronged blend of grassroots mobilisation, media advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, tailored to local dynamics while aligning with national development goals.

“We’re not just preaching inclusion; we’re facilitating it,” said a Lagos State NOA official. “From mentorship programmes to town halls, we’re building the bridges that women need to walk into leadership.”

In the markets of Ibadan, the classrooms of Osogbo, the riverine communities of Bayelsa, and the cityscapes of Lagos, NOA’s message is clear: Inclusion is not charity, but justice.

In Oyo State, town hall meetings have reached hundreds of women with training in civic rights, leadership, and political participation. Yoruba-language radio campaigns have helped amplify women’s voices and normalise female leadership in public discourse.

In Osun, NOA’s ‘Girls for Governance’ initiative has taken root in secondary schools, helping teenage girls envision careers in leadership. Traditional theatre performances in indigenous language have challenged deeply held stereotypes in rural communities.

Across the South-South, the momentum is unmistakable. In Delta State, the NOA launched the Voices of Women radio series, bringing real stories of rural women to the airwaves. These weekly broadcasts feature candid conversations about gender equity, legal rights, and civic responsibility.

Through collaboration with CSOs and women’s cooperatives, NOA Delta has also rolled out community sensitisation efforts in Warri, Asaba, and Ughelli, focusing on voter education and reducing gender-based discrimination. Gender Equality Clubs in secondary schools are grooming the next generation of inclusive leaders, while training programmes for aspiring female politicians have demystified campaign strategy, public speaking, and legal advocacy.

In Bayelsa, women in fishing and farming communities are now part of budgeting conversations, while campaigns in Ekeremor and Yenagoa have significantly reduced school dropout rates among girls. Dialogue platforms between women’s groups and traditional leaders are changing norms.

NOA’s innovation lies in cultural sensitivity. Facilitators fluent in local languages use storytelling, role-play, and radio drama to engage communities from Cross River to Edo. In Edo, the ‘Voices of Women’ programme is co-hosted by rural women and co-funded by local councils, an example of NOA’s co-creation model in action.

In Cross River, traditional rulers sit side by side with gender advocates during policy roundtables. Here, the agency launched ‘Gender Peace Circles’ in conflict-prone communities, integrating women into peace-building efforts and fostering local ownership of reform.

“It’s a balancing act,” said Chief Joseph Etuk, a community leader in Cross River. “We support women, but the way change is introduced matters. NOA has been wise to engage us respectfully.”

In Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic capital, NOA has pivoted to digital platforms. From leadership bootcamps for young women in tech and media, to mentorship programmes connecting them with successful professionals, the agency is building capacity in a state where influence often begins online.

Citywide forums have brought together private sector leaders, activists, and government officials to push forward gender-sensitive reforms. Digital campaigns have targeted youths, using relatable content to spark dialogue and shift perceptions.

The numbers tell a compelling story. In 2024 alone, over 60,000 women across the Southwest and South-South participated in NOA-led civic engagement programmes. Voter registration among young women surged by 22 per cent, and more female candidates contested for local office than in any previous cycle.

Since 2023, NOA has helped form more than 20 women-led civic platforms, many of which now serve as pressure groups pushing for equitable policies in health, education, and economic access.

Despite remarkable progress, challenges remain. Resistance from some religious and cultural institutions continues, but NOA’s respectful, dialogic approach is helping to bridge the gap between tradition and transformation. As Nigeria faces the pressures of economic inequality, gender inclusion is emerging not just as a goal, but as a foundation for national unity and sustainable development.