The Oyo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) during the week received members of the Media Transformative Group (MTG) on a courtesy visit at the Agency’s State Headquarters, Agodi, Ibadan.
The MTG delegation, led by its Chairman, Dr. Babatunde Tiamiyu comprises a body of broadcast media professionals and general managers of some radio stations operating within Ibadan and its environs. The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the media and the agency in advancing the dissemination of reliable information to the public without any colouration. It is also premised on how the group will lend its support to ensuring that NOA s mandates, particularly in the areas of public re- orientation, civic education, and national value charter, are successfully carried out.
The delegation was received by the State Director, Mrs. Ajolayo Simnat Akande, alongside members of her Management Team, including Directors overseeing Community Outreach and Development, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Media and Communications, Planning, Research and Strategy, Accounts, and Human Resources.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Babatunde Tiamiyu described the Media Transformative Group as a professional coalition committed to ethical broadcasting, capacity building, and responsible dissemination of information. He expressed the Group’s readiness to collaborate with NOA in areas such as advocacy programmes, value re-orientation campaigns, airing of public enlightenment jingles, staff training, and other initiatives geared towards well-informed citizenship
In her response, the State Director, Mrs. Ajolayo Akande welcomed the delegation and commended MTG for its initiative and professionalism. She emphasized the critical role of the media in promoting national values, shaping positive public perception, and supporting participatory governance. Mrs. Akande reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to partnering with credible media organisations to ensure accurate, balanced, and timely dissemination of information, particularly at the grassroots level. Since the agency has earned the public trust , the media should also pass the information emanating from NOA to them devoid of ambiguity, she noted.
The meeting featured an interactive session, a back scratching, where both parties freely major hiccups to hitch free media, fundamentals of media ethics, increasing access to verified information, imperatives of fast checking and due diligence before information sharing, effective communication strategies, balanced reporting and other mechanisms on how to repose trust and confidence between government institutions and the public.
The courtesy visit ended with a shared commitment by NOA and the Media Transformative Group to sustain engagement and explore future collaboration in the collective interest of national development and effective information building.
Packaged by Dare Raji
