The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, has asserted that the agency is actively working to restore citizens’ trust and belief in Nigeria.
Issa-Onilu noted that years of broken and betrayed trust had eroded patriotism among many Nigerians, but said the NOA was committed to reversing this trend by fostering a renewed sense of ownership and responsibility for national progress.
Speaking in a recent interview, the NOA boss said the agency’s focus was to ensure that Nigerians naturally develop belief in their country and are emotionally invested in its growth.
“You’d be wasting a lot of time asking people to believe in something without creating the conditions for them to naturally believe in it,” he said. “There’s a reason trust was broken. That’s what we’re working to fix.”
He emphasised that no government policy can succeed without the psychological and emotional commitment of the people.
According to him, nation-building must go beyond meeting material needs and also address citizens’ sense of dignity and belonging.
Issa-Onilu cautioned against actions that undermine national unity due to dissatisfaction with political leadership.
“You can’t hate your country because you dislike an individual. Presidents will come and go, but Nigeria will remain,” he said. “Let us not sabotage our future out of frustration.”
While admitting that no country fully satisfies the needs of all its citizens, he insisted that Nigeria is laying a solid foundation for collective progress.
He called for a partnership between the government and citizens.
“All we need to do is back up the progress with productivity,” he said. “This is our country. Let’s build it together.”
The NOA DG highlighted the new student loan scheme managed by the Nigeria Education Loan Fund as one initiative aimed at restoring hope and dignity to Nigerian families.
“When a student sees their education progressing without stress, and their parents are no longer burdened, it changes how that student feels about Nigeria,” he noted. “That’s the emotional connection we’re rebuilding.”
Issa-Onilu also pointed to improved infrastructure and transparency in governance—such as the discontinuation of opaque oil subsidy regimes—as signs of genuine national progress.
He stressed the importance of consistent communication to counter the spread of cynicism among citizens.
“Negativity is contagious. So is hope. That is why we say the government has moved from ‘Renewed Hope’ to ‘Hope Renewed’ because there are concrete results to show,” he said.
Addressing the popular Gen Z phrase “Nigeria happened to me,” often used to describe negative personal experiences, Issa-Onilu said the NOA is working to flip the narrative by promoting positive stories of ordinary Nigerians who are benefitting from recent reforms.
He cited examples such as vehicle owners switching to Compressed Natural Gas and small business owners accessing loans from the Bank of Industry.
“We must showcase the rewards of positivity. When people see that those with a hopeful mindset are reaping benefits, trust will start to return,” he added.
