The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued new guidelines on the correct rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem at public events, specifying that only the first stanza should be sung during official functions.
In a four-point guideline released on Friday, October 17, the agency further instructed that the third stanza be adopted as the national prayer and recited at the beginning of all public gatherings.
The NOA clarified that all three stanzas of the anthem should only be rendered in full during major national occasions such as independence day, presidential inaugurations, armed forces remembrance day, democracy day (June 12), and the inauguration of the national assembly.
“Recite/sing only the first stanza (not all three (3) stanzas at official events,” the statement read.
“The third stanza should be recited as the national prayer at the beginning of an event.
“The three stanzas are to be recited/sung only during Independence Day, Inauguration (swearing-in) of a president, armed forces remembrance day, democracy (June 12) day, inauguration of the national assembly, etc.
“The national pledge is to be recited at the end of an event.”
Last May 2024, president Bola Tinubu signed into law the bill that reintroduced the old anthem ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.
The anthem replaced the tune which the country has sung since 1978 titled ‘Arise, o compatriots’.
The change was widely criticized by citizens but Tinubu insisted the re-adopted national anthem was all about service to the nation.
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