The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Wednesday said it is advancing its operations by embracing technology and innovations in public communication to meet its mandate of informing and enlightening campaigns across the country.

Speaking during a briefing in Benin, organised by the NOA, the Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency is retooling and updating equipment to meet the standards of the new age of information in terms of technology and innovations in public communication.

Represented by Director General Services, NOA, Mrs. Rebeca Nasamu, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu solicited the support of the media in unfolding her new mandate strategies for societal engagement and community mobilisation for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.

He said the new mandate strategies would also help to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions.

Issa-Onilu said the core mandate of NOA is to inform and enlighten the Nigerian populace on government policies and strategies for implementation, as well as mobilise the people to support the government through a two way feedback mechanism for the overall good of the nation.

The NOA DG added that towards improving on its communication strategy, NOA has moved from its obsolete mode of public communication from the hard copy publications, 12-hour a day television broadcasts and the transistor radios, to countless 24/7 satellite/online global platforms and sources, which are now the preferences of most people especially the younger generation, which is the largest segment of the population.

“As you are all aware, given the state of the nation in recent years, which has manifested in insecurity, economic challenges, unemployment and poverty, infrastructural decay, corruption, political intolerance, and violence, we often hear public commentary, especially in the media, on the role and effectiveness of the NOA.

“Some have been quite understanding and empathetic given the circumstances of the work, but many others have been uncomplimentary. You sometimes hear statements like “What is the NOA doing?”.

“The history of NOA from its early years as MAMSER is rich and varied. I admit that while our message to the populace has been heard loud and clear most times. It was a whimper some of the time. However, in the last year under the present Director-General, our collective experience has been employed in our processes of self-evaluation, retooling, and restrategizing to meet our needs in the present times.

“Staff training and re-training, galvanising partnerships, and institutional collaborations, retooling and updating equipment to meet the standards of the new age of information technology, and innovations in public communication have been silently undertaken to fully deliver on our statutory mandate. We are now ready but are not under the illusion. We can do the job alone. So, the collaboration and cooperation of the press will be key to our success,” he said.