Nigeria’s Leadership Approves National Anthem’s Third Stanza For Use As Official Prayer

Nigeria’s Leadership Approves National Anthem’s Third Stanza For Use As Official PrayerThe Federal Executive Council of Nigeria has officially approved the use of the third stanza of the national anthem as a prayer during public events. Additionally, the first stanza will now be recited at all official functions, while all three stanzas will be reserved for special occasions, including Independence Day, Democracy Day, and Workers’ Day.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This announcement was made by Lanre Isa-Onilu, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), during a press briefing and stakeholders’ meeting at the NOA’s Akwa Ibom State Directorate in Uyo. He was represented by Madam Tessy Nnalue, the Director of Orientation and Behaviour Modification.

Onilu stated, “As you may know, we have been advocating for a fundamental approach to value orientation and attitudinal change campaigns. While slogans are good for the ear, they do not instill these values in our hearts.” He elaborated on the agency’s mandate, which includes communicating government policies, mobilizing support, and promoting democracy and values that foster peace and moral conduct.

He highlighted recent proposals to the Federal Executive Council aimed at enhancing value orientation, especially among youth. “Many of them focus on early indoctrination, providing a framework for evaluating the Real Nigerian character. All of the memoranda were approved by the Federal Executive Council,” he noted.

The council also approved various measures to standardize national symbols, including the National Flag, Anthem, and Pledge. The specifics of the approval are as follows:

1.The first stanza of the National Anthem will be recited at all official functions, while all three stanzas will be reserved for special occasions.

2.The third stanza of the National Anthem will be adopted as the national prayer.

3.The NOA will serve as the custodian of national symbols to ensure standardization.

4.September 16 will be observed as National Symbols Enlightenment Day.

5.The NOA will promote respect for these symbols and their proper display to foster national identity and pride.

Onilu also announced the unveiling of the National Values Charter, which will be integrated into school curricula and mandated for teaching during pre-resumption retreats for government officials. Furthermore, a National Values Brigade will be established in schools to nurture model citizens.

Additionally, the FEC approved measures to promote local content in cartoons to counter the dominance of foreign animations and reinforce national values and culture. The agency also plans to rebrand the War Against Indiscipline Brigade to the Citizens Value Brigade to reflect a more democratic approach.

Value orientation will now be a compulsory component of the National Youth Service program, with the NOA collaborating with the NYSC to instill national values in fresh graduates.

Mallam Onilu mentioned that the agency had adopted new communication strategies to engage citizens, particularly the youth, who consume media differently today. “The communication landscape is evolving daily,” he said.

He introduced the NOA’s AI Voice/Chat Assistant, CLHEEAN, designed to facilitate communication on various thematic issues and provide individuals with information about the government. New tools, including the ‘Explainer Newsletter’ and the Mobiliser App, have also been implemented to enhance citizen engagement.

Onilu concluded by outlining the government’s initiatives aimed at addressing economic and social challenges, including the Student Loan Scheme and the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, which aim to empower Nigerian youth and drive economic growth.

For more information on this article and other related posts from Bushradiogist, please join our WhatsApp channel by clicking this link https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUumOODTkK7AZL1Fw3o. For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 090 1907 0863 on WhatsApp.