NOA applauds Music Star Davido for Projecting Nigeria’s Image Positively Globally

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commended Grammy-nominated singer and CEO of DMW, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for his outstanding contributions to projecting a positive image of Nigeria on the global stage.

In a letter dated May 16, 2025, and signed by the Director-General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA congratulated the award-winning artist for his musical accomplishments and recent patriotic remarks during an interview on a French-speaking channel, CKO.

During the interview, Davido urged international visitors to experience Lagos and Nigeria firsthand rather than rely on stereotypes. He was quoted as saying: “Everywhere is dangerous! The Congo is dangerous, Benin is dangerous, Paris is dangerous. Even in Atlanta, you could go somewhere and get shot. So that makes it dangerous.”

The statement, according to the NOA, resonated with the agency’s mandate to promote a balanced and honest narrative about Nigeria, emphasizing the need for citizens to take ownership of the country’s image and identity. “It is true that we need to tell our own positive stories. We need to put out our national identity in a way that leaves the world in no doubt as to who we really are and how blessed our country is, in spite of our challenges,” the letter stated.

The agency also introduced its new initiative—the National Identity Project, which is anchored on a National Values Charter. This project, the NOA explained, seeks to redefine how Nigerians are perceived globally and how they view one another within the country. “We count on you to continue to project the best of us, while we work to redress the negativities in public and social life,” the DG added.

The NOA’s commendation reflects growing recognition of the role of cultural influencers like Davido in reshaping Nigeria’s global image and inspiring a sense of national pride.

See letter below: