News of President Bola Tinubu reinstating the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee” came as a big surprise to Nigerians.
“This morning, Mr President signed into an Act of Parliament, the newly passed National Anthem 2024,” Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said on Wednesday.
Akpabio spoke at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.
The occasion coincided with the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tinubu later joined the joint session.
There, he confirmed ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’ as the “latest national anthem”.
The Old National Anthem
So many questions have been raised concerning the government’s decision to return to the old anthem.
Well, this article seeks to answer one important question, when was Nigeria we hail thee first sang?
The old anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960.
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Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria during its independence, penned the lyrics for “Nigeria, we hail thee,” while Frances Berda composed the music.
The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.
It was used from independence in 1960 to 1978.
See lyrics of Nigeria We Hail Thee below:
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 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 may be blessed.
