President Bola Tinubu’s administration has called on Nigerians to seek official permission from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) before using the national anthem to avoid unnecessary misinterpretation.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Mr Issa-Onilu strictly noted that as custodians of Nigeria’s national symbols, the NOA is responsible for preventing the misuse of these symbols.
To raise further awareness about these policies, the DG said, the NOA will conduct press briefings across all states, launching a nationwide sensitisation campaign.
The DG also reiterated the correct representation of the Nigerian flag, which is green, white, and green, specifying the use of Emerald 2.0 for the shade of green.
He said, “Permission must be sought from the Agency before using the National Anthem to avoid misrepresentation.”
Also, he pinpointed 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 President Muhammadu Buhari’s administrations neglected value orientation, focusing solely on infrastructure development.
Speaking further in the statement, the DG underscored 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.
Recall that president Tinubu signed into law a bill reverting Nigeria to its old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” recently.
The anthem, written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda, replaces the one dropped by the military government in 1978.