National Orientation Agency (NOA) has donated 5,000 copies of the newly reintroduced Nigerian national anthem, alongside national flags and plaques of National Values Charter, to National Sports Commission (NSC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the donation was disclosed in a statement posted by the agency on X on Friday.
The move comes in response to recent viral videos showing athletes struggling to recite the anthem during international events.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, NOA Director-General, was represented by senior agency official David Akoji during the presentation.
He emphasised the importance of national pride, saying, “We want our athletes and citizens to feel proud and confident when singing the anthem. This gesture will help reinforce that sense of national identity.”
Akoji added that sports serve as a powerful unifying tool for Nigerians across all divides, and the anthem as a key national symbol, must be treated with the respect it deserves.
The National Values Charter, which contains the Nigerian Promise, Citizens’ Code, and the country’s core values was also included in the donation.
The document is designed as a social contract to guide both citizens and institutions in promoting shared national principles.
Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the NSC, described the donation as timely, particularly as the Super Falcons are playing against Morocco in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final tonight.
He praised the NOA’s initiative, saying it reinforces the role of sports in promoting unity, creating jobs, and contributing to national development.
The NOA delegation also included directors from various units, such as civic education, media, legal services, youth engagement, and environmental sustainability, highlighting a cross-sectoral collaboration to foster a values-driven Nigeria.
