Former national anthem of ![]() | |
Lyrics | John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe, 1978 |
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Music | Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of B. E. Odiasse, 1990 |
Adopted | 1 October 1978 |
Relinquished | 29 May 2024 |
Succeeded by | Nigeria, We Hail Thee |
Audio sample | |
Arise, O Compatriots |
Arise, O Compatriots is a Nigerian patriotic song that was used as the national anthem of Nigeria from 1 October 1978 until 2024, when Nigeria, We Hail Thee was reinstated. On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished followed by the readoption of the first national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" used from 1960 until 1978. [1]
The anthem was adopted in 1978 by the military dictatorship and replaced the previous national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". [2]
The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict P. Odiase (1934–2013). The lyrics were created by five people: P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.
On 29 May 2024, "Arise, O Compatriots" was officially relinquished following a bill passed by the National Assembly and subsequently signed into law by president Bola Tinubu. It was replaced by "Nigeria, We Hail Thee", Nigeria’s first national anthem. [3] [1]
Although the anthem has two verses, usually only the first is sung. On some occasions, the second verse is recited as "The National Prayer".
English original [4] | Hausa translation | Igbo translation |
---|---|---|
I | I | I |
Yoruba translation [5] | Fulani translation | Tyap translation |
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I | I | I |
The Nigerian pledge of allegiance is recited immediately after the playing of the Nigerian national anthem. It was written by Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin in 1976. [6]
English original | Hausa translation | Yoruba translation | Tyap translation |
---|---|---|---|
I pledge to Nigeria, my country | Na yi wa Najeriya alƙawarin ƙasata | Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi | N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka. |