| Nigeria, We Hail Thee | |
| Prefix: | National |
| Author: | Lillian Jean Williams[1] |
| Lyrics Date: | 1959 |
| Composer: | Frances Benda |
| Music Date: | 1959 |
| Predecessor: | Arise, O Compatriots |
| Sound: | Nigeria national anthem Nigeria, We hail thee midi.mid |
| Sound Title: | Nigeria, We Hail Thee |
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" is the national anthem of Nigeria. Dating to 1959, the lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams and the music was composed by Frances Benda. It was first used upon independence in 1960, until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.[2] "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was officially readopted on 29 May 2024, replacing "Arise, O Compatriots".[3]
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was adopted as Nigeria's national anthem on 1 October 1960. The anthem's lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Frances Benda composed the music for "Nigeria, We Hail Thee."[4] The song was used as the national anthem until it was replaced by "Arise, O Compatriots" in 1978.[5]
On 23 May 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill to relinquish "Arise, O Compatriots" replacing it with "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". The bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on 29 May 2024.[6]
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.[7]
When "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" was first adopted in 1960, the new national anthem faced criticism for a number of 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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10] [11]