The composer of Nigeria’s National Anthem, Pa Benedict Elise Odiase has reportedly died in his sleep at his Oregun home in Lagos, early Wednesday morning.
As the director of music of the Nigerian Police band, he composed the national anthem, Arise O Compatriots” in May 1978.
He retired in 1992 as a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
He retired in 1992 as a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
“Arise, O Compatriots” replaced “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 his directorship, with the lyrics done by John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P.O. Aderibigbe.
Speaking in a recent interview, he said that “I composed the music titled “Arise O Compatriots” in May 1978. The words (lyrics) were made available by officials of the Federal Ministry of Information in an open competition. It was an open competition, but apart from being an open competition, composers were guided that the music must not be more than two stanzas; that explains why the National Anthem has only two stanzas.”
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