The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has stressed the need for media professionals in Nigeria to promote stories that define the nation’s history and uphold the core values of democracy.
Mallam Issa-Onilu took office in Abuja at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)/NUJ Press Week 2025 with the theme: “The place of the media in shaping and maintaining national values.”
He noted that the Nigerian media landscape plays a vital role in promoting peace, unity and national cohesion by reflecting the shared values and aspirations of the country.
“Let me speak not only as a public servant but also as someone who has spent a career in the media. Journalism is rushed literature. I know firsthand the pressures of the newsroom: the race against deadlines, the tension between facts and narratives, the temptation of sensational headlines that can attract attention but also distort reality. I also know the nobility of the profession: the thrill of truth, the satisfaction of holding power accountable, and the deep joy that comes from serving to the public through the written and spoken word. Journalism, at its best, is not just a career; it is a vocation.
“Today, as Director General of the National Orientation Agency, I have a double vision. On the one hand, I see the media as my former colleagues, the comrades of my professional life. On the other, I see them as partners in the national mission entrusted to the NOA, of cultivating a shared set of values that define us as Nigerians.
“We cannot succeed without the media. Your platforms amplify our message, your stories shape our credibility, and your voices influence our unity. Without you, our campaigns may resonate, but they will not resonate. With you, our message will not only reach people; it will move them.
“This is why the National Guidance Agency is promoting the Nigerian Identity Project as a flagship national program that is directly dependent on a strong partnership with the media. The Nigerian Identity Project is a bold initiative designed to embed values orientation and civic education into the fabric of our society, starting with the school curriculum from primary to tertiary level.
“At the center of this project is the National Values Charter, a framework built around seven clear pillars that seek to institutionalize values such as patriotism, accountability, unity, social justice and respect for diversity.
“Taken together, these initiatives are not abstract aspirations but living commitments that must be reinforced in every radio broadcast, every television program, every online publication and every newspaper column. Imagine the collective transformation if all media outlets in Nigeria consistently projected these values.
“Imagine the Nigeria we would become if every journalist assumed his role not simply as an observer of events, but as a custodian of our national moral compass. We are not alone in this journey. Across the world, nations have harnessed the media not only to inform but to shape values.
“The BBC has long been a vehicle for projecting British values of justice, civility and national pride around the world. Al Jazeera has redefined the global conversation on Middle East issues, ensuring that the perspectives of that region are no longer marginalized. Likewise, the Nigerian media must move beyond mere reporting of our challenges and take responsibility for projecting our resilience, our creativity and our achievements,” he said.
In his remarks, NAN CEO Mallam Ali Muhammad Ali revealed that the agency is working to reposition itself to compete with major global news brands such as Reuters and Associated Press.
“It may seem like a big ambition, but we are not intimidated,” Ali said. “As Muhammad Ali once said, ‘If your dream doesn’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough.’ We believe the steps we’ve taken in recent years have revived and repositioned the agency.”
He acknowledged the challenges of limited funding and infrastructure, but expressed confidence in the dedication and professionalism of NAN’s workforce.
“Despite our limitations, the spirit here is high. Over the past two years, our reporters have won laurels and accolades across the country, and NAN continues to provide leadership at both the state and correspondent levels of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),” he added.
In her address, the Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, said the media occupies a powerful position in society, not only informing and educating the public but also shaping the values that unite the nation.
“We must defend transparency, accountability and dialogue,” he said. “As journalists, we must amplify the voices of the marginalized, celebrate stories that inspire hope and patriotism, and renew commitment to integrity, justice and professionalism.”
Also speaking was the Chairman of the NUJ NAN Headquarters Chapel, Comrade Collins Yakubu-Hammer, who said the media is more than a messenger: it is a mirror of society and a builder of national identity.
He emphasized the importance of promoting values such as honesty, patriotism, unity, hard work, resilience, kindness, discipline, justice and respect for human dignity.
“In a time when misinformation and fake news spread faster than the truth, our role as journalists has never been more critical,” said Yakubu-Hammer.
“We must ensure that our platforms illuminate rather than divide, and strengthen rather than weaken public trust.”
He added that Press Week provides a vital opportunity for reflection and commitment to ethical journalism that upholds national values and promotes the public good.
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