President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the official “Nigeria at 60” logo for Independence Day this year.
It was the first order of business before the start of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at State House.
The meeting, being held at the Council Chamber, is attended physically by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
Also in attendance physically are the Ministers of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and, Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
The Federal Government said Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebration will be observed for a whole year, ending September 30th, 2021.
President Buhari, who spoke at the unveiling, said the anniversary celebration would be held low-key this year.
The President, who cited the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic as reason, spoke after the SGF had given a background to how the logo was adopted and the modalities guiding the anniversary celebration
He said his administration would henceforth ensure more inclusiveness.
According to the President, the theme of this year’s anniversary celebration; “Together Shall We Be” had been chosen to forge a more united and cohesive Nigeria.
“Today we stand on the threshold of history as we formally begin a series of activities commemorating Nigeria’s Diamond Anniversary. The task history has saddled me with today is to proclaim a theme that will keep us united, help us forge ahead and unveil a logo that will form the critical pillars, which are eleven months modest commemoration activities will rest on .
“Celebrating 60 years of independence really calls for pomp and pageantry, but the global COVID-19 Pandemic, which has forced all nations in the world to think and act differently, has also forced on us the imperative of a low-keyed celebration. Operating within the limitations placed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we created an internet challenge for Nigerians to make a choice from a set of four pre-selected logos that will appropriately define theme.
“Of these four options, Nigerians from all walks of life participated in making a choice and I’m happy to let you know that the logo I will be unveiling is a product of choice from the Nigerian people.
“I’m informed that the selected option depicts our togetherness; a country of over 200 million people, whose natural talents, grits and passion glitter like the precious diamond we are. This to me is a sufficient appreciation to our most precious assets; our people. Everywhere you go, Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in academia, business, Innovation, music, movie, entertainment and culture.