The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has issued fresh guidance on the correct wording of Nigeria’s national anthem to promote accuracy among citizens.
The move aims to correct long-standing errors and ensure that citizens sing the anthem as it was originally composed.
The agency listed four common mistakes often made during public recitations of the anthem. Many Nigerians, it noted, tend to say “tribe” instead of “tribes”, “tongue” in place of “tongues”, “Nigerians all, and” instead of “Nigerians all, are”, and “Nigeria shall be blessed” rather than “Nigeria may be blessed.”
These subtle errors, the NOA stated, change both the rhythm and the intended meaning of the anthem, which remains a symbol of national unity, peace, and hope.
The agency also restated that only the first stanza should be sung at official functions, while the third stanza is to be recited as the national prayer. All three stanzas are to be rendered only on special occasions such as Independence Day, Presidential Inauguration, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy Day, and the Inauguration of the National Assembly.
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To help reinforce the correct lyrics, the NOA published the full text of the anthem as follow:
Stanza 1
Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribes and tongues may differ,
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Stanza 2
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
Stanza 3
God of all creation,
Grant this our one request:
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
The agency urged schools, organisations, and citizens to learn and teach the correct version, stressing that every line of the anthem carries meaning that reflects Nigeria’s unity, shared struggles, and hope for a better future.
Crediblenewsng.com
