The Foundation made the call in a statement issued by its Founder and Chief Vexillologist, Chris Agiri, to commemorate the 16 September Nigeria National Flag Day.
In the statement, titled “Honouring Our National Symbol, Strengthening Our National Unity,” the FFN urged Nigerians to use the occasion to reflect on the meaning of the national flag and the responsibilities that come with citizenship.
“A flag is cloth until a people give it meaning. Ours carries the Nigerian state, our shared identity and our resolve to build a nation that is united, peaceful and prosperous.
“The green speaks of our land, its harvests and its natural wealth. The white speaks of peace and unity. Between them lies a plain truth. We differ in ethnicity, faith, language, culture and politics, yet we are one nation with one destiny,” the Foundation said.
The organisation said the National Flag Day should go beyond ceremonial activities, arguing that the national symbol should serve as a constant reminder of Nigerians' common identity and collective responsibility.
The FFN also used the occasion to highlight its role in promoting awareness about the significance of the national flag, recalling that it began marking September 16 as Nigeria National Flag Day 15 years ago.
According to the Foundation, its first observance of the day took place on September 16, 2011, as part of efforts to deepen public understanding and respect for the Nigerian flag.
“The Flag Foundation of Nigeria did not arrive at 16 September recently. We have stood on this ground for years.
“Long before the date drew the attention it enjoys today, the Foundation was calling on Nigerians to respect, honour and understand their flag.
“On 16 September 2011, the Foundation marked the day with clear purpose, using it to carry the meaning of the National Flag to the Nigerian public.
“That celebration was one step in a long walk. Our aim has always been a flag that citizens understand, not one that only appears at official functions. We want young Nigerians above all to see in it their common citizenship, their shared history and their duty to the future of this country.”
The Foundation said its campaign had continued for more than a decade, with emphasis on greater respect, understanding and proper use of the national symbol.
“So let the record show: the Flag Foundation of Nigeria has championed 16 September as a day of reflection on the National Flag for more than a decade. In that time, we have pressed without pause for greater respect, understanding and proper use of the flag.
“We claim no ownership of the flag or of the patriotism it inspires. The flag belongs to every Nigerian. We place this history on record to honour all who have kept the meaning of our national symbol alive,” it said.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the flag as a tool for citizenship education and national consciousness.
As part of that effort, the FFN said it had instituted the Flag for Schools programme, aimed at introducing greater awareness and respect for the national flag among children and young Nigerians.
The Foundation called for broader collaboration among government institutions, educational institutions, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the private sector and the media to promote proper knowledge and use of the national symbol.
“We call on government institutions, schools, civil society, traditional institutions, the private sector, the media and every patriotic Nigerian to work with us, so that the National Flag receives the dignity it deserves,” FFN said.
The Foundation also pointed to the country's current economic, security and social challenges, saying the national flag remains an important symbol of the things Nigerians share despite their differences.
It noted that economic pressures, insecurity, political disagreements and social tensions could deepen divisions if citizens lose sight of their common national identity.
“The flag reminds us that before we are anything else, we are Nigerians.
“When the green-white-green rises, it does not ask whether you are from the North or the South, the East or the West. It does not separate Christian from Muslim, rich from poor, young from old, or one people from another.
“It speaks to what we share. It tells us that the troubles of Nigeria belong to all of us, and so does the work of building a better Nigeria.”
Against the backdrop of insecurity in parts of the country, the FFN also called on Nigerians to participate actively in the responsibilities of citizenship and support efforts to address threats to communities.
“That work begins with the safety of our communities. We call on every Nigerian to rise to the duties of free citizenship and to stand with government against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, corruption and every form of insecurity,” the Foundation said.
The FFN, while reiterating its call for Nigerians to treat the national flag with dignity, said the September 16 observance should inspire citizens to look beyond the flag's physical appearance and appreciate the values it represents.
“On this Nigeria National Flag Day, 16 September 2026, the Flag Foundation of Nigeria calls on every Nigerian to look upon the flag with fresh respect, and to see in it our unity, our shared destiny and our hope for a better Nigeria.
“Let us raise the flag with pride. Let us honour it with dignity. Let us teach our children what it means.
“And above all, let the green-white-green remind us that Nigeria is our common home, and together we will build the nation we deserve,” Agiri concluded.