Nigeria, We Hail Thee

Nigeria, We Hail Thee
National anthem of  Nigeria
Lyrics	Lillian Jean Williams
Music	Frances Berda
Adopted	1960 2024
History
Preceded by	"Arise, O Compatriots"

"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" is the national anthem of Nigeria. The lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams and the tune was composed by Frances Berda. It was the country's first national anthem, first adopted in 1960 and was in use until 1978, when it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots". On 29 May 2024, when President Bola Tinubu signed a bill returning the old anthem into law, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was reinstated, a move which has sparked controversy.

Lyrics

Nigeria, we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribes and tongues 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.

National pledge

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.

English original	Hausa translation	Yoruba translation	Tyap translation
I pledge to Nigeria, my country To be faithful, loyal and honest To serve Nigeria with all my strength To defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory So help me, God.	Na yi wa ƙasata Najeriya alƙawari Zan zama mai amana, mai aminci da gaskiya Zan yiwa Najeriya hidima da dukkan ƙarfina Zan kare hadin kan ta da kuma kare mutuncin ta da daukakar ta A kokarin yin haka Allah ka taimake ni.	Mo ṣeleri fun Nàìjíríà orilẹ-ede mi Lati jẹ ol loyaltọ aduroṣinṣin ati otitọ Lati fi gbogbo ipa sin Nigeria Lati daabobo isokan rẹ Ki o si gbe iyi ati ogo rẹ ga Nitorina ran mi lọwọ Ọlọrun.	N da̱p a̱nu ma̱ng Naijeriya, a̱byin nung ka. N nyia̱ a̱cucuk, n nwuak a̱pyia̱ nung, n nyia̱ tsotswat. N nyia̱ Naijeriya ta̱m ma̱ng a̱lyia̱ a̱nyiung. N cok mun a̱pyia̱ nji hu. A̱wot, n di̱n a̱ma shi nji hu ma̱ng yet nji hu, Mat a̱nia, A̱gwaza beang nung.

Criticism

When "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first adopted in 1960, the then new national anthem faced criticism for many reasons. The Daily Service, a newspaper run by the Yoruba organisation Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, started a campaign against the national anthem, which led to a committee being established to collect signatures as a petition.

Following its readoption in 2024, the song was again criticised for the lack of consultation in passing the law designating it as the national anthem and for what was perceived to be misplaced priorities by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Former education minister Oby Ezekwesili criticised the anthem's suitability, given the presence of "pejorative" words like "native land" and "tribes", and that she would continue to sing "Arise, O Compatriots" as the national anthem. A video of political activist Aisha Yesufu circulated online where she refused to recite "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" as the new national anthem.

Mohammed Tahir Monguno, chair of the parliamentary committee that pushed through the anthem's readoption, said that the change was "apt, timely and important", while Tinubu said the anthem symbolised Nigeria's diversity.