The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to seek permission before using the National Anthem. This was contained in a statement by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu on Wednesday.
The Director-General stated that the permission became necessary to avoid misinterpretation.
Issa-Onilu further announced that press conferences will be held across all States to initiate the sensitization campaign on the agency’s new policies.
The statement read, “As custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is tasked with preventing all forms of misuse.
“The DG emphasized that permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation.”
The statement also clarified that the Nigerian flag is simply in three patch colours of green, white, and green. It noted that the correct shade of the green colour is Emerald 2.0.
The DG noted the transformation from the neglected state in which he met the agency.
He, however, cited key achievements of the agency to include the establishment of audio-visual studios. The launch of an optimized NOA website featuring the CLHEEAN-NOA Artificial Intelligence voice and chat assistant. And the recent approval of institutionalization policies by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). These, he said, are all with the full support of President Bola Tinubu.
Issa-Onilu also explained that previous administrations focused solely on infrastructure development while neglecting the critical role of value orientation. These, he said, led to the decline of social intervention structures like the Boys’ Scouts, Girls’ Brigade, WAI Brigade, and even the National Orientation Agency, itself.
The DG, however, stated that the current administration recognized this oversight. With President Tinubu extending his support to the agency.
According to him, the backing is reflected in the recent Federal Executive Council’s approvals. All of which revolve around value orientation and the National Identity Project.
Speaking on the newly introduced Citizen Value Brigade (CVB), Mallam Issa-Onilu advised Nigerians not to allow their children to search for heroes elsewhere, especially during their formative years.
The DG informed that the NOA had received approval to establish the CVB, which will instill Nigerian values in children. He noted that the initiative would start with 1,000 children per State and the FCT, Abuja.
He added that the initiative is aimed to cultivate homegrown heroes for future generations to emulate.
Issa-Onilu also stressed the importance of creating local cartoon contents. He said this is to counter the influx of foreign values being conveyed to young Nigerians.
The Director General reiterated that both leaders and citizens share equal responsibility for national progress.
He explained that within the Nigerian Promise—a key aspect of the National Values Charter—there are principles of Equality and Meritocracy that the nation guarantees to its citizens. And this is whether they are in positions of leadership or the general populace.
The DG, therefore, warned that Nigeria cannot move without active participation and adherence to these values.
Recall that President Tinubu during his first anniversary in office, signed into law the Bill to revert to Nigeria’s old National Anthem. The anthem was dropped in 1978.
The re-adopted Anthem, which begins with “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959. It was composed by Frances Berda.
source: Channels TV
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