The Lyrics of The First National Anthem of Nigeria

The First National Anthem In Nigeria Lyrics

This is the first national anthem in Nigeria. The Lyrics of the first Nigerian National Anthem is really important due to reference purposes and for general knowledge sake.

The Nigerian National Anthem which was first used was composed just after colonial rule by great Britain to unite every Nigerian and give each Nigerian an identity, a source of pride.

Great Britain, having successfully entered into the Nigerian space, colonized Nigeria, but during the whole period of colonialism, it was the passion of every Nigerian under colonial rule to gain freedom, independence if you may.

And instead of doing nothing about their freedom, the Nigerian founding fathers rallied round and clamored for support from every single Nigerian for the independence of Nigeria.

So, Nigeria in December 1960 became independent of Great Britain and as such, there was a need to have an identity independent of that of Britain and this identity came in the form of our first national anthem.

The first national anthem in Nigeria is “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”. It unified every person in Nigeria.

The lyrics of the first Nigerian National anthem was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a Briton who still lived in Nigeria post-independence.

This anthem lasted from 1960-1978.

Below is the lyrics of “Nigeria, we hail Thee”, the first national anthem ever in Nigeria in English:

Nigeria, we hail thee,

Our own dear native land,

Though tribe and tongue may differ,

In brotherhood we stand,

Nigerians all are proud to serve

Our sovereign native land.

Our flag shall be a symbol

That truth and justice reign,

In peace or battle honour’d,

And this we count as gain,

To hand on to our children

A banner without stain.

O God of all creation,

Help us to build a nation

Where no man is oppresses,

And so with peace and plenty

Nigerians may be blessed.

First National Anthem Lyrics In Hausa:

Nijeriya za mu yi maka kuka,

Kasashenmu na asali,

Ko da yake kabila da harshe na iya bambanta,

A cikin ‘yan uwantaka mun tsaya,

‘Yan Nijeriya duka, suna alfaharin yin aiki

Ƙasarmu ta ƙasarmu.

Our flag zai zama alama

Wannan gaskiya da adalci ke mulki,

A cikin zaman lafiya ko yaki,

Kuma wannan mun ƙidaya a matsayin riba,

Don mika wa yara

Banner ba tare da tabo ba.

Ya Allah na dukan halitta,

Ka ba wannan buƙatar mu ɗaya,

Taimaka mana mu gina al’umma

Inda ba wanda aka zalunta,

Sabili da haka da zaman lafiya da yalwa

Nijeriya na iya samun albarka.

Nigeria We Hail Thee Lyrics In Igbo

Naijiria anyi gua gi,

Ala anyi di ala,

Ọ bụ ezie na ebo na ire nwere ike ịdị iche,

N’etiti ụmụnna anyị na-eguzo,

Ndị Nigerians niile, na-enwe obi ụtọ ije ozi

Ala nna anyi nke mba anyi.

Ọkọlọtọ anyị ga-abụ ihe nnọchianya

Eziokwu na ikpe ziri ezi na-achị,

Na udo ma ọ bụ agha agha,

Na nke a anyị gụrụ dị ka uru,

Iji nyere ụmụ anyị aka

A ọkọlọtọ na-enweghị ntụpọ.

O Chineke nke ihe nile e kere eke,

Nye ihe a otu arịrịọ anyị,

Nyere anyi aka iwulite mba

N’ebe a na-emegbu mmadụ,

Ya mere na udo na ọtụtụ

Nigeria nwere ike gọzie.

Nigeria’s First National Anthem Lyrics In Yoruba

Ile-ilẹ ara ilu wa,

Bi o tilẹ jẹ pe ede ati ede le yato,

Ni ẹgbẹ ẹgbẹ wa duro,

Gbogbo eniyan ni orile-ede

Niger ni igberaga lati sin

Ile-Ile Ijọba wa.

Flag wa yoo jẹ aami kan

Otit] ati ododo yii j] ba,

Ni alaafia tabi ọṣọ ogun,

Ati eyi ti a kà bi ere,

Lati fi ọwọ si awọn ọmọ wa

A asia ti ko ni idoti.

Iwọ Ọlọrun ti gbogbo ẹda,

Fun wa ni ibeere kan wa,

Ran wa lọwọ lati kọ orilẹ-ede kan

Nibo ti a ko ni eniyan ni inunibini,

Ati bẹ pẹlu alafia ati opolopo

Nigeria le jẹ alabukunfun.

The music for “Nigeria, we hail Thee” was composed by Frances Berda.

The first Nigerian National Anthem was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978 which was composed by Benedict Odiase.