The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has released a set of official instructions clarifying the proper recitation of the Nigerian National Anthem and the National Pledge at public events, a move aimed at standardising protocols and reinforcing national values.
The new guidelines, detailed in an official advisory, specify which stanzas of the national anthem should be used for different occasions and at what point the National Pledge should be recited.
A key directive states that for most official events, only the first stanza of the national anthem should be recited or sung.
The agency explicitly advised against the common practice of reciting all three stanzas at regular functions.
According to the instructions, the third stanza of the anthem, is to be repurposed as the National Prayer.
It is to be recited at the beginning of an event, setting a solemn and purposeful tone.
The NOA outlined that the full rendition of all three stanzas is reserved for major national ceremonies.
These designated occasions include:
· Independence Day
·The Inauguration (swearing-in) of a President
· Armed Forces Remembrance Day
·Democracy Day (June 12)
· The Inauguration of the National Assembly
Furthermore, the agency provided clarity on the timing of the National Pledge, directing that it should be recited at the end of an event.
This positions the pledge as a concluding commitment to the nation’s ideals as citizens depart.
The new directives are expected to bring uniformity to the conduct of government functions, school assemblies, and other formal gatherings across the country.
By delineating the use of the anthem’s stanzas and the pledge, the NOA seeks to deepen their symbolic significance and ensure they are used in a manner that best reinforces patriotism and national unity.
Event planners, government officials, and educational institutions are encouraged to adhere to these new guidelines for future official ceremonies.
