From last week, continues the narrative of the roles played by different individuals such as Prof. Fela Sowande and Dr Ekundayo Phillips, in the adoption of Nigeria’s first national anthem

UNDER Phillips’ tutelage, Professor Sowande earned the Fellowship Diploma, FRCO, from the Royal College of Organists. At that time, he was also a bandleader, playing jazz and popular highlife music.

In 1952, Professor Sowande became musical director of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service; in 1955 he was appointed MBE in the 1955 Queen’s Birthday Honours for this work. In 1962 he travelled to the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship. In 1968, he moved to Howard University in Washington, D.C., then to the University of Pittsburgh.

His colleagues included Samuel Akpabot (1932-2000), Ayo Bankole (1935-1976), Lazarus Ekwueme (born 1936), Akin Euba (1935-2020), Adam Fiberesima (1926-1975), Josiah Ransome-Kuti (1855-1930) and Ikole Harcourt Whyte (1905-1977).

He composed several songs, including his famous song Oyigiyigi Olu Orun, Atobajaye Atobiju, a popular gospel Yoruba song.

The Anthem lasted till October 1, 1978 when General Olusegun Obasanjo discarded the “Nigeria We Hail Thee” and replaced it with “Arise O Compatriots”. 

Arise, O Compatriots was the national anthem of Nigeria used from October 1, 1978 until 2024 after Nigeria, We Hail Thee was relinquished. On May 29, 2024, “Arise, O Compatriots” was officially relinquished and replaced by the first national anthem: “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” which was earlier used from 1960 until 1978.

General Obasanjo changed the National Anthem on October 1, 1978, twelve months before handing over to President Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari(February 25, 1925 – December 28, 2018).

In 1978, General Obasanjo initiated moves to change the national anthem of “Nigeria We Hail Thee”. He called for entries. He said at that time that a new national anthem was required because the previous one was composed by 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. 

A police officer, Benedict Odiase (August 25, 1934 – June 11, 2013) was tasked with converting the poem to music. He did this by creating a melody that would capture the patriotic and aspirational spirit of the poem.

 In 2001, he received the Order of the Niger Award from President Olusegun Obasanjo for his composition of the National Anthem. However, Obasanjo did not change the lyrics of the National Pledge which was created by Professor (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin in 1976. Professor Adedoyin who was born on November 6, 1938 is the second of six children and a princess from the Iji ruling house of Shaki in Shaki West Local Government of Oke Ogun area of Oyo State.

Her children were already acquainted with reciting the Oath of Allegiance in their school in New York, USA and also the State Pledge (which was introduced on June 1, 1976) in Achimotu School in Accra Ghana. Instinctively, out of childhood inquisitiveness and assertiveness, they sought to know why they didn’t recite any Pledge while they were in Nigeria. 

Of course their mother told them the home truth: their fatherland had no National Pledge. They eventually provided the necessary challenge that propelled their mother to conceive and originate a National Pledge for Nigeria, which she achieved in June 1976. 

Her creative work while aged 38, was featured in the Daily Times of July 15, 1976 in an article titled: “Loyalty to the Nation, Pledge”.

Adewusi who was a mutual friend of the Adedoyins and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, read the Daily Times article and eventually presented it to General Obasanjo in August 1976. 

To be concluded