The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a fresh guideline on the rendition and recitation of the Nigeria’s national anthem.
In a post on its official X handle, the agency informed the general public that only the first stanza of the national anthem should be recited or sung at all official events.
According to the statement, the third stanza should be rendered as the National Prayer at the beginning of events, while all three stanzas are to be recited or sung during special national occasions such as the Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Democracy Day, among others.
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The statement read, “The National Orientation Agency (NOA) informs all members of the public to kindly take note of the correct protocol for the rendition and recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge as follows:
“INSTRUCTIONS:
•Recite/Sing only the First Stanza of the National Anthem at all official events.
•The Third Stanza should be rendered as the National Prayer at the beginning of events.
“•All Three Stanzas are to be sung or recited only on special national occasions such as:
•Independence Day
•Presidential Inauguration (Swearing-in)
•Armed Forces Remembrance Day
•Democracy (June 12) Day
•Inauguration of the National Assembly, etc.
•The National Pledge should be recited at the end of an event.”
The agency further urged Nigerians to uphold the dignity and sanctity of the county’s national symbols.
Daily Trust had reported how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29, 2024, signed into law an executive bill amending the National Anthem Act, cancelling the 1978 national anthem: Arise o Compatriots’’ and returning the old national anthem: “Nigeria We hail Thee’’.
The President’s action had generated reactions, with opinions sharply divided among Nigerians on the matter.
However, the federal government had defended the action, saying it was important to have anthem that evokes emotions and connects with the sentiments of Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, the Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Oninlu, said, “You see, there is so much in words that we speak and we hear. So, in communication, the impact of our statement resonates with us. There are some anthems that you listen to and then you see a call to it. They call you to action. They ask you to act and do certain things. And there are some that are just flags that are just like any other song.
“And anytime you sing them, you don’t feel any psychological attachment. No any feeling. It doesn’t call up any passion in you. It doesn’t really speak to your emotion, and doesn’t call up to your sentiment.
“And it’s important that you have an anthem that connects with your sentiment; that calls you to action so that when carrying out those actions, the impact of the anthem will now reflect in our lives.”
Below is the word-for-word of the three-stanza anthem:
Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
