“Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was adopted as Nigeria’s first national anthem on October 1, 1960.
President Bola Tinubu signed the old national anthem into law on 29th May, 2024.
The president who addressed the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday signed the bill which had scaled through second reading of the two National Assembly sitting.
At the end of their joint sitting on Wednesday, the president along with other lawmakers observed the old National anthem ‘Nigeria we hail thee’.
The anthem’s lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence.
Frances Berda composed the music for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The second national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” replaced “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” in 1978.
On May 23, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a bill to revert from the current anthem to Nigeria, We Hail Thee.
See anthem bellow:
Nigeria we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongue may differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle honour’d,
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 shall be blessed.
