Do you know that the year 2008 is symbolically relevant to the Nigerian national anthem? This is exactly 30 years that famous and inspiring anthem has been sung from the mouths of the wise and suckling. And have you ever critically analysed the lyrical contents? This is your opportunity to do so now.



"Arise, O Compatriots"

Arise, O compatriots,

Nigeria's call obey.

To serve our Fatherland

With love and strength and faith.

The labour of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain,

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.



O God of creation,

Direct our noble cause;

Guide our leaders right:

Help our youth the 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 reign.



The Nigeria national anthem, “Arise, O compatriots” was adopted in 1978, thirty years ago, in preference to “Nigeria We Hail Thee” which was formerly used as the national anthem between 1960 to 1978. The uniqueness of this anthem especially to me is the fact that 1978 was during the period famously known in Nigeria as the oil boom, which was when one could proudly say I am a Nigerian. Uniquely the lyrics of the current national anthem were taken from five best entrants of in a national contest. The lyrics as written by John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B.A. Ogunaike, Sotu Omoigui, and P.O Aderibighe were put together to form the national anthem, a mark of unity in diversity.

Do you know that there is no smoke without fire? When the national anthem came out, I want to believe that our country had not degenerated to what it is today. But the people who put the anthem together can be said to have the Wisdom of Solomon and eyes like the eagles. They saw into the future. The second stanza aptly says a prayer, in the midst of foreseen calamity, to the God of creation to direct the noble cause of the nation Nigeria and guide our leaders. The ills are not only perpetrated but leaders as they have successfully introduced innocent and unassuming youths into their evil deeds. So we pray that God should help these innocent youths that have been brainwashed to know the truth, and to grow in love and honesty which our leaders lack. This will enable them to live justly and in the truth; they will attain great and lofty heights to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign. Could that be the reason why it has always been sung that Nigerian youths are the leaders of tomorrow? I bet most of us need to take time and meditate on the lyrics of the Nigeria national anthem. Then we won’t need anyone to tell us what is right or wrong.

Every leader of this great nation should be made to assimilate the message behind this anthem before thinking of leading the Nigerian citizens. He who assimilates it and fails to uphold its unique message stands condemned by himself.

Nice assessment. I still think it is a powerful anthem, one of the best for poetry and harmony that i have ever heard. Only the German anthem comes close to it.

some of our political leaders cant sing the anthem, and care less about it meaning, all that matters is to loot the treasury to the tune of N240 million daily.

i watched a programme on tele where a journalist asked a few politicians to recite the national pledge. to my greatest suprise most of them could not finished the first line and my comment was "what a pity leaders without vision". Because our national anthem and the pledge has a lot to direct our minds toward the nation building

The Nigerian national anthem must be recited by our leaders and the pledge.