NOA Boss Explains Removal of ‘SHALL’ from National Anthem, Releases Guidelines for Events
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has harped on the importance of reciting the National Anthem correctly .
He specifically addressed what he called the misuse of the word “shall.”
“I have noticed many people incorrectly say ‘where peace and justice shall reign. The word ‘shall’ is not part of the official version. Since its creation and adoption in 1975, the correct phrase has always been ‘where peace and justice reign.”
Issa-Onilu noted that using “shall” implies a future aspiration for peace and justice, which is not the intention of the drafters of the message.
He further clarified the protocol for official events, saying: “The National Anthem is played first, followed by the second stanza of the Anthem, which serves as the National Prayer.”
This stanza was proposed by the NOA years ago and adopted as the National Prayer.
