‘Sing only first stanza at official events’ — NOA issues new guide on national anthem recital

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has released fresh guidelines on how Nigeria’s national anthem should be rendered at official events.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 16, the agency outlined a four-point directive specifying when and how each stanza of the anthem should be used.

According to the NOA, only the first stanza of the anthem is to be sung at official functions, while the third stanza should be recited as the National Prayer at the beginning of such events.

“Recite/sing only the first stanza (not all three) at official events. The third stanza should be recited as the National Prayer at the beginning of an event.

The three stanzas are to be sung or recited only on occasions such as Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy Day (June 12), and the Inauguration of the National Assembly.

The National Pledge is to be recited at the end of an event,” the statement read.

The clarification follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval in May of the bill that reintroduced Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”