If you’re a Nigerian reading this, then the National Anthem is not news to you. You must have probably heard it in school growing up, on television, or at public events.
But do you know who made it? Do you know about everyone involved?
Benedict Odiase
Odiase is widely credited for being “the man behind” Nigeria’s national anthem.
The anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” was originally written as a poem by five different writers, and it was Odiase who was tasked with putting the poem to music. He did this by creating a melody that would capture the patriotic and aspirational spirit of the poem.
Before we go into what makes this anthem unique, especially with the words reflected, there are four things you should know about the Odiase, the composer.
He was born during the colonial era
Odiase was born in Edo State during the British colonial era on August 25, 1934.
He was a police officer
Odiase served in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from 1954 to 1992 and was also the Music Director of the Nigerian Police Band and the Mid-West State Police Band.
He directed Nigeria’s current national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” in 1978
In 1978, Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”, was changed to “Arise, O Compatriots,” under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. The former anthem was changed to promote national ownership, as the composer of the previous anthem was a British expatriate.
The lyrics of the anthem were taken from five of the best entries in a national contest.
The winners were P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan, and B.A. Ogunnaike.
What Are the Details About These Men?
P. O. Aderibigbe was a Nigerian lawyer and poet. He was born in 1933 in Ibadan, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied law. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee, which was responsible for selecting the winning poem for the national anthem. Aderibigbe died in 2010.
John A. Ilechukwu was a Nigerian journalist and poet. He was born in 1937 in Nsukka, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied English. After graduating, he worked as a journalist for the Daily Times of Nigeria. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Ilechukwu died in 2012.
Dr. Sota Omoigui was a Nigerian physician and poet. He was born in 1936 in Benin City, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied medicine. After graduating, he worked as a physician in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Omoigui died in 2017.
Eme Etim Akpan was a Nigerian lawyer and poet. He was born in 1938 in Calabar, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied law. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Akpan died in 2019.
B. A. Ogunnaike was a Nigerian engineer and poet. He was born in 1938 in Ibadan, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied engineering. After graduating, he worked as an engineer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Ogunnaike died in 2014.
Odiase, the composer, passed away in 2013, aged 78.
Before his death, Odiase was a national award winner. In 2001, he received the Order of the Niger Award for his composition of the National Anthem.
Odiase got the National Anthem copyrighted
Odiase still earns royalties from the National Anthem since he copyrighted it through the Musical Copyrights Society of Nigeria (MCSN).
It’s worth mentioning that his family previously filed a lawsuit
MTN, in response, attributed the mistake to their content providers and asserted that they should not be held responsible.
A Brief Rundown of What the National Anthem Means
Let’s start with the first four lines:
Military recruitment and patriotic values
Arise, O Compatriots,
Nigeria’s call obey,
To serve thy Fatherland,
With love and strength and faith
In the third line, “to serve thy fatherland” refers to Nigerian military recruitment. It means that Nigerians should be ready to defend the country when necessary.
The three principles of love, strength, and faith are the virtues every patriotic Nigerian must have for the country. Love for the fatherland, strength to make it past economic hard times, and faith that Nigeria can overcome every obstacle it faces.
The fight for independence and democracy
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
“The labour of our heroes past” refers to the wars that our forefathers and national heroes fought for the nation.
These include the battles against British colonial masters and the fight for national independence and democracy with the likes of Sir Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, MKO Abiola, etc.
The National Prayer
The second stanza of the National Anthem is often referred to as “The National Prayer”, as it contains prayers for the country. It reads:
Oh God of creation,
Direct our noble cause,
Guide thou 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 shall reign.
The first line of the anthem is suggestive of Nigeria’s religious sentiments. Christianity and Islam are the most dominant faiths in the country, with 50% of Nigeria’s population being Muslim and 40% being Christian.
Both share a common denominator in their belief in a supreme being, i.e., God.
The second, third, and fourth lines are a plea to God to help Nigeria with three things—direct the affairs of the nation, help our leaders make the right decisions, and give understanding to the youth.
The fifth and sixth lines are a continuation of the prayer to God, the future of the country should mature with love and honesty, guided by truth.
The last line is a call for national peace from conflicts and wars and a nation where legal justice is met in cases of wrongdoing.
