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In my secondary days, we were usually made to stop whatever we were doing, stand still and recite the national anthem and pledge as long as we could hear the drum and hum of the National Anthem and National Pledge. It is one the most recognised National Symbols of the country. For those who went to Army School, the conditions were more strict. A friend told me about how they MUST not flinch. He told me about how the national flags were usually raised after the recitation and how they MUST “stand at ease.”
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HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
“Nigeria, we hail thee” was Nigeria’s first National anthem. It was adopted as the country’s anthem on 1 October 1960 when we gained independence. You can listen to it here. It was replaced with a new anthem – “Arise O compatriots” – was later introduced in 1978.
The new anthem (still in use) was written after a merge of the ideas of five Nigerians. The FG had issued a request for Nigerians to submit their ideas for the lyrics of a new anthem through an open competition. They received about 1449 submissions, after which five best entries were selected and awarded a sum of one thousand naira. The five winners were; B. A. Ogunnaike, Eme Etim Akpan, John A. Ilechukwu, Sota Omoigui, and P. O. Aderibigbe.
The lines gotten were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict E. Odiase in 1978.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM LYRICS.
First stanza of Nigeria national anthem
Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labor of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace, and unity.
Second stanza of Nigeria National anthem.
Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth and truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.
NIGERIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM MP3 DOWNLOAD.
You can download/listen the full audio listen of the old National anthem of Nigeria here. Tap the “three dots” to download.
It was composed by the Nigerian Police Band under under the directorship of Benedict E. Odiase in 1978. The Pledge was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976.
Respect for the national anthem is a way of promoting National Consciousness. For example, Nigerian students are encouraged to stand still and recite along should they hear the anthem.
Abdulbasit Toriola is a versatile freelance writer. On this blog, he keenly writes about Nigeria and Nigerians breaking the odds. You can connect with him via any of the links below.
