The Federal Government has condemned in strong terms the use of “Naija” in place of Nigeria, saying that such usage is “very uncharitable and unpatriotic”.
Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, made the remarks while receiving the participants of Heir Apparent Reality Show in her office in Abuja yesterday.
Akunyili, who frowned on the continuous misrepresentation of the country's official name in place of a “corrupt” version, said: "It is very offensive to call Nigeria ‘Naija’. We are making plans to write companies to stop using the word Naija. I have heard that name Naija in adverts. I want them to go back and remove that word.
"If anybody says this is Naija, ask the person, 'Where is Naija?' We have to stop this word because it is catching up with the young. If we don't put a stop to its usage now, it will continue to project us wrongly.”
The minister's condemnation was prompted by a sentence in the presentation of the visiting group where “our world is Naija” was inserted.
Akunyili, who fervently spoke against the use of the word, ordered that the sentence be removed from the programme and changed to “our world is Nigeria”.
“Naija” is obviously a Nigerianised form of Niger, from where Nigeria derived its name.
The word is popularly used by musicians, artistes, advert managers and corporate companies and it could be positive or negative, although it is being used more positively in recent times.
It is believed to be trendier and is used by the younger generation.
Though no official condemnation of the word has been made, several reports have warned of the consequence of the usage of such words among the youths.
Posted: at 16-11-2010 02:46 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
divineproject at 16-11-2010 03:04 PM (13 years ago) (f)
Wetin come bad inside?...........How come we prefer the baptismal name the oyinbo man gave us than the one we decided to call ourselves?.....
I think there are more pressing issues to be talked about, rather than dwelling on frivolities............get to work Madam, face other pressing issues...
A LITTLE HELP HERE; A LITTLE HELP THERE, MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND!
Posted: at 16-11-2010 03:04 PM (13 years ago) | Hero
Though our Madam Akunyili has a point on this, but I believe there are more pressing "Image Problems" to bother about in our dear country at the time...What about the bad image our die-hard politicians are giving this blessed country? What has she done to correct that?
I Am Different Because I Stand For The Lord Jesus!
Posted: at 16-11-2010 07:58 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Wetin come bad inside?...........How come we prefer the baptismal name the oyinbo man gave us than the one we decided to call ourselves?.....
I think there are more pressing issues to be talked about, rather than dwelling on frivolities............get to work Madam, face other pressing issues...
I rove...sorry, love your new picture, DP! Its beautiful. You really are a Divine Project...
I Am Different Because I Stand For The Lord Jesus!
Posted: at 16-11-2010 08:01 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
time was when some countries were misrepresented with some wrong adjectives eg ITALY- MAFIARS, GHANA- GHANA MUST GO, ENGLAND - LADIES' HOME OR QUEENS' HOME! but 2day, reverse are the cases! i have never seen the proffesor making any useless point except this! ''NAIJA" OR "NIGERIA" has nothing to do with the sorry state of NIGERIA! she should better concentrate on the way forward for the country rather than spending time on some none issues! when u build the country or the economy, every other thing including the image will change! u do not need to ask for it or fight to get it. when it reflects on ur citizens other nationals will show some respect n not talk them down or maltreat them
Posted: at 16-11-2010 08:10 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
edem4luz at 16-11-2010 08:28 PM (13 years ago) (m)
aija four life.
This lady is sick in the brain. There is absolutely nothing wrong in having a nickname for your country, especially among the youths. While there are more pressing issues that need to be addressed, this brain dead lady has chosen a trivial issue on which to waste her time.
Having nicknames for your country is commonplace:
United States is nicknamed Yankee Land or Yankeedom;
Australia is nicknamed Oz;
United Kingdom, the U.K.;
and the like.
Posted: at 16-11-2010 08:28 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
hansgans at 16-11-2010 09:19 PM (13 years ago) (m)
this woman don fool finish oh because she no see how to get bribe from the name naija e come be problem for ram may be she forgot her tablet that is why she can not reason well anymore she dey crace
Posted: at 16-11-2010 09:19 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
tufine4life at 16-11-2010 09:20 PM (13 years ago) (m)
instead of focusing on how to move the country forward positively you are here vomiting rubish,naija for life, pay more atencion on how to create job opportunity,goad roads, good water supply, hospital etc, and not the so called naija issue.
Posted: at 16-11-2010 09:20 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
that is one of the greatest lies i have heard in recent times. Has the naming of America "Yankee" changed anything? They should just stop stealing the masses money and stop betraying the masses by such postulations.
Posted: at 16-11-2010 09:43 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie
moreover, let them stop stealing our money and keep giving us false hopes that it will be better some day. Posterity will never forgive them for what they are doing to the masses. They steal our money take them to Europe and America, these people then use our own money to better there economy while we wallop in abject poverty, deprivation and want. If there is God and he is all knowing and sees everything, then, be sure they cant escape his wrath.
Posted: at 16-11-2010 09:49 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie
divineproject
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e no gel na 
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