By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
When terror strikes, it is not only bullets and bombs that respond, voices, melodies, and messages must rise too.
In Nigeria’s war against terrorism, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), cannot afford to ignore one of the most potent forces for social influence and mass mobilization: Nigerian artists.
While the NOA has made commendable efforts in public enlightenment and community engagement, its continued failure to institutionalize collaboration with artists is a grave strategic oversight.
Nigerian musicians are not just entertainers; they are cultural icons, emotional connectors, and national voices who command more influence than most politicians or institutions.
Take 2Baba, for example. He has consistently spoken out against the senseless killings in Benue and beyond. Iyanya, too, used his platform to mourn victims of the same conflict through music.
These are not isolated acts of celebrity sympathy, they are bold statements of solidarity and resistance. And their impact? Immediate, far-reaching, and deeply felt.
Music speaks to the heart when logic fails. It crosses educational, ethnic, and social divides.
In a country where many citizens are more familiar with song lyrics than government policy, artists have the kind of grassroots reach that the NOA desperately needs in the psychological and ideological war against terror.
It is therefore not a matter of suggestion, but of necessity, the NOA must partner with Nigerian artists.
Imagine the possibilities: coordinated anti-terror campaigns on social media, emotionally powerful songs that counter extremist propaganda, concerts that educate while entertaining, and influencer-driven awareness that reaches millions within minutes. This is not fantasy; it is strategy.
Terrorism is not fought by force alone. It is a battle for hearts and minds. The military may win the field, but unless the people are won over, the victory will be fleeting.
The NOA, with all its expertise in national messaging, must team up with artists who already hold the microphone to the nation’s soul.
Anything less is a missed opportunity and in this war, missed opportunities cost lives.
Nigerian artists are ready. The question is: Is the NOA willing to act?
