- President Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating Nigeria’s former anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” replacing “Arise O Compatriot.”
- This change is already taking effect in schools across the nation, as evidenced by recent videos.
- The move has sparked a flurry of mixed reactions, with many Nigerians scratching their heads and questioning the timing of this switch amidst the myriad of pressing issues the country is grappling with.
New footage of primary school pupils in Nigeria reciting the reinstated national anthem is gaining traction on social media.
On May 23, the House of Representatives swiftly passed the bill, and the Senate followed suit during a public hearing on Tuesday.
President Bola Tinubu signed the bill reinstating the old national anthem on Wednesday.
While the decision sparked a wave of reactions on social media, several videos of pupils reciting the reintroduced anthem at their schools on Thursday morning have started to go viral.
In one footage, pupils of Justice and Peace Primary School in Ogbere-Ijebu, Ogun State, are seen reciting the first stanza of the ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ anthem.
In another clip, students at an unidentified primary school enthusiastically sing the reintroduced anthem at the top of their voices.
A different video shows a school playing a recording of the national anthem during their morning assembly.
SEE VIDEOS BELOW
New National Anthem 🇳🇬
By primary school pupils pic.twitter.com/uwcueRM2GS— MR WHITE (@MrWhiteNigeria) May 30, 2024
The young pupils at Justice and Peace Nursery and Primary School in Ogbere-Ijebu, Ogun State, are joyfully singing the updated national anthem. pic.twitter.com/SWQxSFFFfK
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) May 30, 2024
Old National Anthem played at the assembly ground in a primary school in Lagos this morning pic.twitter.com/QGgVJmqf45
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) May 30, 2024
The former anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was in use from 1960 until 1978, while “Arise, O Compatriots” served as the national anthem from 1978 to early 2024.
The lyrics of “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” were authored by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, and the melody was composed by another Briton, Frances Benda.
Conversely, the anthem adopted in 1978, “Arise, O Compatriots,” was composed by Nigerian musician Benedict Odiase.
An old video of President Tinubu has now resurfaced on social media, revealing how the journey to revert to the old National Anthem begun.
Two years ago, before he emerged President of Nigeria, Tinubu expressed his fondness for Nigeria’s former cum present national anthem during a TV show on Nigeria’s independence anniversary in 2022.
The video dated October 2, 2022, captures Tinubu’s sentiments during an interview with Seye Oyetade on the program ‘Matters Of Heritage’.
During the interview, Asiwaju Tinubu at the time passionately shared his admiration for the old national anthem, saying if he had his way he will bring it back. Now, the opportunity came in 2024.