For decades, Frances Berda has been touted as the composer of the readopted anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee,’ and Lillian Jean Williams as the writer of the lyrics. However, newspaper archives shared by Tolu Ogunlesi, an aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, on his X page on Thursday, have given more insight into how the readopted anthem came to be and uncovered the identity of the woman behind the now controversial anthem. On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed into law the adoption of Nigeria, We Hail Thee, as a new anthem.
According to a January 1959 report published in the Federal Nigeria newspaper, The National Planning Committee for Independence launched a competition to select a National Anthem commemorating independence on 1 October 1960. A prize of $280.00 was announced for anyone who wrote a National Anthem that expressed the spirit of a free and independent Nigeria among the world’s countries.
Excerpts read, “Entries of not more than three verses of six lines each in English are invited from Nigerians and non-Nigerians inside and outside Nigeria who can put this spirit into words (the setting of the verses to music will be the subject of another announcement). Closing date for entries: March 31, 1959.” The entries were to be sent to the Independence Celebrations Officer, c/o Ministry of Internal Affairs in Lagos State.
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