The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commended Davido for his role in positively representing Nigeria on the world stage.
The recognition follows the singer’s recent appearance on the Culture Knock Out podcast, where he praised Lagos as one of Nigeria’s top destinations for nightlife and entertainment.
In a letter to Davido dated May 16, 2025, NOA applauded the Unavailable hitmaker for his patriotic remarks, emphasising the importance of showcasing Nigeria’s strengths despite its challenges.
I write to first convey our congratulations for the several feats of accomplishment you have recorded in your musical career and for making our country proud on the global stage, the letter reads.
News of your patriotic stand during your recent interview on the French-speaking CKO Channel, where you encouraged visitors to experience Lagos firsthand, rather than rely on assumption and stated truthfully that ‘everywhere is dangerous, the Congo is dangerous, Benin is dangerous, Paris is dangerous, everywhere is dangerous. Even in Atlanta, you could go somewhere and get shot. so that makes it dangerous’ reached us at the National Orientation Agency with great delight.
The agency highlighted the 32-year-old singer’s influence in “countering negative stereotypes about Nigeria, aligning with its newly launched ‘National Identity Project’ — an initiative aimed at reshaping global perceptions of the country and its citizens.
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 reads in part.
It is for this very reason that the National Orientation Agency has designed a National Identity Project with its overarching National Values Charter, a reciprocal commitment that should define how Nigerians are perceived globally and how we perceive one another locally.
We count on you to continue to project the best of us, while we work to redress the negativities in public and social life. Once again, please accept our hearty congratulations.
The kudos come a few weeks after Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner for environment and water resources, tackled media personality Scott Iguma for saying the state smells.
In November, Davido provoked a chorus of criticism for saying, Nigeria’s economy is in shambles.
