The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has appealed to eligible citizens in Ondo State to take advantage of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, set to begin this August.

The call was made by the Ondo State Director of the NOA, Mr. James Adekunle, who urged residents to participate in the voter registration process.

According to him, INEC will open its online pre-registration portal on Monday, 18 August 2025, while physical registration at state and local government INEC offices will commence on Monday, 25 August 2025. The exercise will run from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Mondays to Fridays, across the state.

Mr. Adekunle encouraged those who have just turned 18, individuals needing to update their details, and residents seeking voter record transfers to seize the opportunity.

“Your vote is your voice; ensure it is heard by getting registered,” he said.

Call for Civic Participation

The NOA director also called on community leaders, political parties, youth groups, and civil society organisations to mobilise people for the exercise. He described voter registration as a “vital step in strengthening democracy.”

Adekunle assured that INEC is fully prepared to conduct the exercise fairly and transparently, with the aim of boosting public confidence and participation in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Why It Matters

The voter registration drive is a critical step ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming elections. By ensuring eligible citizens are registered, the NOA believes it will empower more Nigerians to exercise their constitutional rights and shape the country’s future.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping leadership overhaul at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), appointing veteran media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the new Director-General of the state broadcaster.

The announcement, made on Thursday, also confirmed the appointment of Karimah Bello as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Essahmed as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.

Mr Pedro, a Lagos native with nearly three decades of experience in broadcasting, sports rights management, and marketing communications, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most accomplished media entrepreneurs.

From Sports Management to National Broadcasting

A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, Pedro also holds a Master’s degree in Investment Management & Finance from City University Business School, London.

In 1995, he founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which became one of Africa’s leading sports content providers. The company distributed premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in more than 40 countries.

Pedro’s career also includes leadership roles at Bloomberg Television Africa, Rapid Blue Format, and consultancy work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB). Notably, he helped the AUB secure exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.

Industry analysts have credited him with developing commercially viable broadcast platforms, attracting high-value sponsorships, and delivering world-class content tailored to African audiences.

Signalling a New Direction for NTA

The appointments are among the most significant leadership changes at NTA in recent years. Media experts see the move as part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to modernise the broadcaster, improve content quality, and compete effectively in Nigeria’s increasingly dynamic media market.

“Pedro’s track record in sports rights, global broadcasting partnerships, and content innovation positions him to lead NTA into a new era,” said a senior industry analyst.

The new leadership is expected to prioritise audience engagement, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships, as NTA seeks to reclaim its position as a leading broadcaster in Africa.

The Lagos State Government has launched a fresh registration exercise to capture poor and vulnerable households that were left out of its earlier database, in a move aimed at strengthening social protection and equitable welfare delivery across the state.

The exercise, coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget under the supervision of Commissioner Ope George, began at Ajibola Community Development Area (CDA) in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Kosofe Local Government.

Speaking at the flag-off, Mrs. Oluwakemi Garbadeen-Adedeji, Director of the Social Protection Coordinating Department, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, stressed that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to targeted support.

“This registration is a key step in achieving our goal of targeted support for poor and vulnerable households,” she said.

She explained that the fresh registration is designed to include families that missed out in the earlier exercise, ensuring the Lagos State Single Social Register (LASSR) remains accurate and comprehensive.

Community leaders also welcomed the exercise. Alhaja Arikawe Adewale, Chairman of Ajibola CDA, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what she described as “the dividends of democracy” through his administration’s welfare programmes.

“We appreciate the government’s commitment to social protection. This large turnout shows residents understand the benefits of being captured in the social register,” she told the officials present.

The update is part of the state’s ongoing integration of LASSR with the National Identification Number (NIN), which began on 9 April 2025 across all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.

The LASSR, a subset of the National Social Register, is a critical database used to identify beneficiaries for targeted welfare interventions. It includes information on households experiencing poverty and vulnerability, enabling more efficient distribution of government support.

According to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the updated register will help ensure all eligible households can access benefits under Lagos State’s social protection delivery programmes, reducing gaps in welfare coverage.