The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, on Friday unveiled the centenary flag in preparation for the 2014 celebration of 100 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation.
Mr. Anyim, while unveiling the flag in Abuja, said that the centenary was based on the unity and progress the country had recorded.
The ceremony involved the formal presentation of the centenary flag by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to the SGF.
The flag was designed by the NOA in partnership with a private organisation.
Mr. Anyim said that the centenary flag, which he described as the symbol of unity, provided Nigerians the opportunity to reaffirm their faith in the country.
The SGF said the symbol and signs that represented the country had a lot to tell about what the country stood for, noting that the national flag had become the unifying factor in the country.
“This flag should not only serve the purpose of centenary, but it should remain as a symbol of our unity even for years to come,” the SGF said.
Mr. Anyim said the centenary should be made an indelible event in the history of the country, and urged Nigerians to hold it dearly and make sure it succeeded.
He added that it would spur all Nigerians to build a more prosperous country and that the country would remain an indivisible entity.
The NOA Director-General, Mike Omeri, said the country could only be defined by its symbols as they served as clarion call for Nigerians to identify with.
Mr. Omeri said the symbol of any country should engender the spirit of patriotism because the centenary flag symbolised a new Nigeria making steady progress.
He commended the SGF for his untiring effort at re-awakening the consciousness of Nigerians toward the centenary.
Mr. Omeri called on Nigerians to celebrate their symbol, adding that there was no other country they could call theirs except Nigeria.
(NAN)
