Ondo govt urges residents, diaspora to embrace state anthem
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government has called on residents, indigenes at home and in the diaspora, as well as friends and admirers of the state, to embrace and promote the Ondo State Anthem as part of efforts to strengthen unity, preserve cultural heritage and project the state’s identity to the world.
The government said the anthem represents more than a patriotic composition, describing it as a powerful symbol of the people’s shared history, cherished values, cultural identity and collective aspirations.
In a statement issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, the government urged all sons and daughters of the Sunshine State to take ownership of the initiative and make the anthem an integral part of their daily lives.
As part of the campaign to popularise the anthem, the government has encouraged members of the public to adopt it as their Caller Ring Back Tune (CRBT), a move expected to take the state’s identity beyond geographical boundaries and expose more people to its cultural heritage.
Interested subscribers can activate the Ondo State Anthem as their caller ringback tune by dialling *309*2512#.
Ajanaku explained that the initiative was designed to make the anthem more accessible and familiar to the people, while creating opportunities for its message and significance to resonate across communities, social networks and beyond.
According to him, promoting the anthem should not be seen as the exclusive responsibility of government but as a collective duty requiring the active participation of every stakeholder committed to the progress and identity of Ondo State.
He therefore called on corporate organisations, public institutions, traditional institutions, religious bodies, youth organisations, students and other relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and encourage widespread participation.
The commissioner stressed that the anthem provides an important platform for reconnecting the people with their roots, reinforcing their common identity and celebrating the cultural uniqueness of Ondo State.
He noted that the state’s rich heritage and distinctive values deserved continuous preservation and promotion, particularly among younger generations and indigenes living outside the country.
The government further urged residents and indigenes in the diaspora to see the initiative as an opportunity to demonstrate their attachment to their homeland and contribute to projecting the Sunshine State’s identity on the global stage.
Ajanaku said the government remained committed to encouraging initiatives that promote cultural consciousness, patriotism and a stronger sense of belonging among the people.
He added that the widespread adoption of the anthem would serve as a reminder of the shared bond among the people, irrespective of their political, religious, geographical or social differences.
The statement concluded with a call for collective action, urging the people to make the sound of the Ondo State Anthem a unifying expression of their identity and a lasting symbol of pride in their heritage.
“Let the sound of our anthem become a unifying expression of our identity and a reminder of the pride we share as people of the Sunshine State,” the commissioner added.
