The national anthem of Nigeria: Arise, O Compatriots was adopted in the late 1970s and is the country’s second national anthem and replaced the previous national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee“.
The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict P. Odiase (1934–2013). The Nigerian national anthem lyrics were created by 5 people: P.O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr Sota Omoigui, Eme Tim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.
Although the anthem has two verses, usually only the first is sung. On some occasions, the second verse is recited as “The National Prayer”.
Lyrics of the Nigerian National anthem in different languages
English original
I
Arise, O Compatriots
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
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
II
Oh God of creation,
Direct our noble cause
Guide 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.
Hausa translation
I
Tashi, Ya Yan Uwa
Kiran Najeriya yayi biyayya
Don yi wa ƙasar mahaifinmu hidima
Da soyayya da karfi da imani
Aikin jaruman mu na baya,
ba zai taba zama banza ba
Don yin hidima da zuciya da ƙarfi,
Al'umma ɗaya daure cikin 'yanci, zaman lafiya da haɗin kai
II
Ya Allah na halitta,
Ka shiryar da lamirinmu mai daraja
Ka shiryar da shugabannin mu daidai
Taimaka wa matasan mu gaskiya su sani
Cikin soyayya da gaskiya su girma
Kuma rayuwa mai adalci da gaskiya
Babban matsayi mai girma ya kai
Don gina ƙasa inda zaman lafiya da adalci za su yi sarauta.
The national anthem of Nigeria: Arise, O Compatriots – Igbo translation
I
Bilie, ndị obodo
Oku Nigeria rube isi
Ijere ala nna anyị ozi
Site n'ịhụnanya na ume na okwukwe
Ọrụ ndị dike anyị gara aga,
agaghị abụ n'efu
Iji obi na ike jee ozi,
Otu mba ejikọtara na nnwere onwe, udo na ịdị n'otu
II
Chineke nke okike,
Duzie ebumnuche anyị dị mma
Na -eduzi ndị ndu anyị nke ọma
Nyere ndị ntorobịa anyị aka ịmata eziokwu
N'ịhụnanya na ịkwụwa aka ọtọ ka o too
Na ibi ndụ ziri ezi na eziokwu
Enweta oke oke oke
Iji wuo obodo ebe udo na ikpe ziri ezi ga -achị.
Yoruba translation
I
Dide, eyin Omo ilu
Ipe Nigeria gboran
Lati sin ile baba wa
Pẹlu ifẹ ati agbara ati igbagbọ
Iṣẹ awọn akọni wa ti kọja,
kì yóò jẹ́ lásán
Lati sin pẹlu ọkan ati agbara,
Orilẹ -ede kan ti a dè ni ominira, alaafia ati iṣọkan
II
Oluwa Ọlọrun ẹda,
Ṣe itọsọna idi ọlọla wa
Ṣe itọsọna awọn oludari wa ni ẹtọ
Ran awọn ọdọ wa lọwọ otitọ lati mọ
Ni ifẹ ati otitọ lati dagba
Ati gbigbe laaye ati otitọ
Awọn ibi giga giga giga de ọdọ
Lati kọ orilẹ -ede kan nibiti alaafia ati ododo yoo jọba.
Fulani translation
I
Heey, ummee onon leydiyanke'en,
nootee noddaandu Naajeeriya.
Ngam jagganooɗen leydi baaba,
nder yiɗde, tiɗɗinaare e nuɗɗinaare.
Njaggu ngenndiyanke men ɓeɗiiɓe
to ngu laato ngu meere.
Njaggenen leydi nder ɓernde wootere,
leydi ngootiri ndarindiiri ndimaaku, jam e dental.
The national anthem of Nigeria: Arise, O Compatriots – Tyap translation
I
Á̱na̱nyiuk, nyi ta̱ngam,
Fa̱k yei Naijeriya hu.
Zi̱ nyia̱ a̱byin ka nta̱m
Ma̱ng a̱lyia̱ nzi̱t a̱nyiung.
Nta̱m a̱yaagwak nzi̱t na gbangbang,
Zi̱ na kai nna ghwon bah.
Zi̱ na ba̱ng nna mi̱cet,
Zi̱ swan ma̠ a̠byin ka ma̱ sa̱t, zi̱ mun a̱pyia̱ nzi̱t.
II
A̱gwaza Tswazwa wu,
Da̱ kwak nzi̱t a̱son ka.
Tyiet a̱ca̱cet nzi̱t ba,
Ba̱ cat a̱ghyang ba̱t kuzang jen,
Ba̱ swan swat nyinyang hu.
A̱wot, ba̱ nyia̱ kyang tswa,
Á̱ nok a̱byin nang konyan
Nswan ma̱ng sa̱t a̱ni.