National Symbols and their meaning 2

 The National Anthem

The National Anthem was introduced in 1960 when Nigeria became independent. Before 1960, the British National Anthem was used at festivals and official ceremonies. The anthem prayed for the safety and protection of the Queen of Great Britain. By 1977, it was considered an anthem written by the Britain person who did not quite understand the aims and aspiration of Nigerians was no longer suitable. Therefore, a Nigerian named Mr. Ben Odiaze composed a new national anthem of two stanzas. It replaced the old one ‘’Nigeria we hail thee’’ that was composed by Mrs. Flora Lugard (Nee Shaw). The old national anthem has three stanzas.

The National pledge

The National Pledge has been revised as a result of experiences from the civic war where lives and properties were lost and yet the unity of the country was preserved. It therefore became necessary to include some virtues and statements in the national pledge to remind Nigerians of the importance of keeping the country united.

National Identity Card

The national identity card is an identification for the citizens of Nigeria. It contains the following

•Name of holders: Surname, first and middle name.

•Date of birth:

•Occupation:

•Applicant’s Residence: i.e Address, Town/village, Local Government, and State:

•Blood group: