Delta State government has assured the National Orientation Agency (NOA) that it would comply with the new National Anthem Act signed by President Bola Tinubu.
The director general (DG) of Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, Barr Fred Latimore, gave the assurance during the agency’s mandate advocacy in Asaba, stating that the state would domesticate it and collaborate with NOA to realise its national identity.
He said the state would not only simultaneously respect the national symbols, which embody our nation’s aspirations and unity, but give it wide publicity to ensure it is honoured by all residents in the state.
Corroborating, Delta State director, NOA, Mrs Tracy Ikolomi, said the new national anthem, should unite, not divide us.
“Our diversity should not be a curse. We need values that were eroded, and that need to be respected. At this point in Nigeria, when we are threatened by insecurity, hardship and others, we need the national anthem to unite us,” she advised.
Earlier, the director general of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, stressed the need for societal engagement for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth to strengthen its democratic institutions.
Represented by Mrs Rebecca Nasamu, director, General Services, NOA, he said sooner than later in Nigeria, despair would be replaced by nationalism and poverty with prosperity.
“CLHEEAN facilitates communication, various thematic issues such as crime, lawlessness, health, education, environment, abuse and nationalism”, he stated.