National Symbols, National Pride: NOA Urges Nigerians To Honour Shared Identity
By ANITA KNIGHT
EVERY 16 of September, Nigeria marks National Ordnance Day—also called National Symbols Day—a reminder of the collective values, history, and aspirations embedded in the country’s identity. This year, the North-West Zonal Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Hamisu Abubakar, used the occasion to call on citizens to treat these emblems with dignity and respect.
National symbols—the flag, coat of arms, currency, passport, anthem, and pledge—are more than formal insignia; they are touchstones of unity and nationhood. Abubakar stressed that the anthem and pledge, recited daily in schools and at official functions, are meant to inspire loyalty, strengthen civic duty, and bind citizens to a shared destiny.
“The agency believes this will foster a greater sense of unity among Nigerians. Unity is key to national development,” he said, noting that symbols are crucial for sustaining national pride and identity.
Through community sensitisation, civic education campaigns, and engagement programmes, NOA has sought to deepen understanding of these symbols and embed patriotism in public consciousness. Abubakar added that the agency’s initiatives have increased awareness and strengthened the sense of responsibility among citizens.
In a country often tested by ethnic, political, and social divides, National Ordnance Day is both a celebration and a call to action—a reminder that Nigeria’s unity depends not just on political leadership but on how every citizen upholds the very symbols that represent its sovereignty and future.
