Fulham and Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi has admitted that he is yet to learn the reintroduced Nigerian national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
The Nigeria international disclosed this in a recent episode of the ‘Is This Seat Taken?’ podcast hosted by Nollywood actress, Chinasa Anukam.
He revealed that he closes his eyes and place his hand on his chest during recitation of the new national anthem before kickoff of international matches.
The host asked, “Have you learnt the new national anthem?”
Iwobi replied, “No. When it comes on, I literally stand there and close my eyes.”
The newly re-adopted anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
It was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” as the national anthem of Nigeria on 1 October 1978 but was reintroduced in May 2024 after President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement.
The reintroduction of the old national anthem sparked debate, with prominent figures like activist Aisha Yesufu vowing not to revert to ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ despite the presidential endorsement.