The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to seek permission from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) before using the national anthem to avoid misinterpretation.
This was disclosed by the Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement on Wednesday.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that as custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is responsible for preventing the misuse of these symbols.
He stated, “Permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation.”
As part of this initiative, press conferences will be held across all states to raise awareness of the agency’s new policies.
He further clarified that the Nigerian flag’s correct shade of green is Emerald 2.0, and the flag is to be used without alteration.
Issa-Onilu also highlighted the transformation of the NOA, citing several accomplishments, including the establishment of audio-visual studios, the launch of an enhanced NOA website with an AI-powered assistant, and the recent approval of institutionalisation policies by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), with the support of President Bola Tinubu. He noted that previous administrations neglected value orientation, focusing only on infrastructure development.
Additionally, the DG reiterated the importance of the Nigerian Promise, a central aspect of the National Values Charter, which guarantees principles of Equality and Meritocracy to all citizens. He called on both leaders and citizens to contribute actively to the nation’s progress.
President Tinubu recently signed into law a bill reverting Nigeria to its old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
This anthem, written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda, replaces the one dropped by the military government in 1978.
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