National Anthem: Why I will miss ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ – Singer Teni
Popular singer Teniola Apata, known as Teni, has shared her thoughts on the recent change to Nigeria’s national anthem. On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Teni expressed her sentimental attachment to the replaced anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” citing the many childhood memories associated with it.
On her X handle, Teni wrote: “Arise o compatriots, I’ll miss you, thank you for so many childhood memories. Till we meet again, love SM.”
“Arise, O Compatriots” was adopted as Nigeria’s national anthem in 1978. Its lyrics were composed by John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui, and P. O. Aderibigbe, and it was performed by the Nigeria Police Band under the direction of B. E. Odiasse.
With the signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024, “Arise, O Compatriots” has officially been replaced by the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” as Nigeria’s nation
al anthem.
