National orientation Agency has given a guide on the correct use of the country's national anthem and the pledge.
This guide is through a circular from the NOA headquarters in the nation's capital city Abuja directing that the first stanza of the anthem be used at official functions while the first stanza be sung as the prayer at the commencement of any official function,meanwhile the circular stressed that the first stanza should be sung during high level functions such as armed forces remembrance day, independence day, democracy day and also during inauguration of president governors or the national assembly and also the pladge be recited and the end of all official functions.
Further more, the circular also made some corrections in the areas of pronunciations such as tribes and not tribe, tongues and not tongue, nigeria maybe blessed not Nigeria shall be blessed. NOA therefore called on Nigerians to use the anthem rightfully as our symbol of unity and pride to the nations heritage.
It could be remembered that the national anthem which was written by a Britain was the first to be used from the year 1960 to 1978 and it was replaced by another pledge "arise o compatriots" and now the incombent president reintroduced a new anthem as a symbolic sign with the intention of reconnecting the country with the independence ideals of unity and hope.
