The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has formally issued the standardized lyrics of Nigeria’s reintroduced national anthem in an effort to promote national unity and restore historical reverence. This comes after President Bola Tinubu recently signed a law returning to the nation’s original anthem, which was initially played in 1960 upon independence and continued to be played until 1978.
Reintroducing the hymn, written by British resident Lillian Jean Williams, has provoked a range of responses. The timing of the return, according to some critics, is a diversion from more urgent national challenges. However, the government insists that this measure is a step in the right direction toward preserving Nigeria’s identity and principles.
Different interpretations of the lyrics of the song started to surface during the transition, which prompted the NOA to intervene and provide an official translation. To make sure the lyrics complemented Nigeria’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity, the agency worked with linguists, cultural academics, and historians.
The NOA’s Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, led the unveiling ceremony in Abuja. He stressed that the goal of this effort is to remove any ambiguity about the lyrics as written by law. The opening stanza’s line, “Nigerians all, are happy to serve,” was altered by replacing the word “and” with the word “are,” as Issa-Onilu pointed out.
Further stressing the importance of accuracy in the anthem’s words, Issa-Onilu pointed out, “Note that the words ‘tribes’ and ‘tongues’ are in plural in the third line of the first stanza, which reads: ‘Though tribes and tongues may differ.’ It’s crucial that our national symbols reflect our collective spirit accurately.”
The NOA calls on all Nigerians to embrace the standardized lyrics. The corrected version of the anthem is as follows:
Stanza 1
Nigeria, we hail thee
Our own dear native land
Though tribes and tongues may differ
In brotherhood, we stand
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Stanza 2
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign
In peace or battle, honor’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
Stanza 3
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.
This standardized anthem not only aims to unite Nigerians but also to instill a sense of pride and duty towards the nation. The NOA urges educators, media outlets, and government agencies to adopt these lyrics in all official functions, ensuring that the anthem’s powerful message of unity and service resonates across all facets of Nigerian society.