The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has donated 5,000 copies of the recently reintroduced Nigerian national anthem, along with national flags and plaques of the National Values Charter, to the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The donation was announced by the agency in a statement on X on Friday.
According to the agency, the gesture follows recent complaints and viral videos of athletes struggling to correctly recite the anthem during major events.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, director-general of NOA, was represented by David Akoji, a senior official of the agency, at the presentation.
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“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,” said Akoji.
He added that sports remain a unifying force for Nigerians across ethnic, religious, and political lines, and the anthem, as a key national symbol, must be embraced with reverence.
Also donated was the National Values Charter, which outlines the Nigerian Promise, Citizens’ Code, and the nation’s core principles.
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The document is intended as a social contract to guide both citizens and institutions in upholding shared values.
Shehu Dikko, chairman of the NSC, welcomed the donation as “timely,” especially as the Super Falcons prepare to face Morocco in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final.
He commended the NOA’s support and reiterated the critical role of sports in fostering national unity, creating employment, and strengthening the Nigerian economy.
The NOA delegation included directors from civic education, media, legal services, youth engagement, and environmental units. The agency said this was a show of cross-sectoral collaboration for a “more value-driven Nigeria.”
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