Some Key Facts About Nigeria’s First National Anthem

Lyrics:  The lyrics are as follows:

Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribe and tongue may differ
In brotherhood, we stand
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle, honoured,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.

O God of all creation
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed
And so, with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.

Replacement: In 1978, during the military regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the anthem was replaced by a new national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”

The lyrics were created by five Nigerians: P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.

And now, 46 years later, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill, which brought the old national anthem ‘Nigeria, We hail thee’ into law, coinciding with his one year in office.