•Seeks to reawaken patriotic fervour with ‘Work Nigeria Anthem Campaign’
By Tessy Igomu
With its every word symbolising the sovereignty of Nigeria, the national anthem should naturally evoke a patriotic fervour in children and adult alike each time it is sung. And as Nigeria marked its 57 years of nationhood earlier this week, the song’s clarion call reverberated across the country.
Composed in 1978 by the Nigerian Police Band and guided by Ben Odiase, ‘Arise O’Compatriots’, was meant to serve as a unifying song, celebrating Nigeria’s rich culture and heritage. Its glorifying, patriotic expressions originated out of the passion to celebrate unity amid diversity, taking into cognisance the historical past and hopes for a better future. Its significance was hinged on its ability to bind all Nigerians into an unbreakable chord.
With Nigeria buffeted by socio-economic and political differences, resulting in discordant tunes of dismemberment, critics maintain that those guiding principles embedded in the anthem appears to have been lost on the citizenry.
However, one man believes all hope is not lost. He has also taken practical steps to reawaken a national consciousness and engender attitudinal change in Nigerians through the national anthem. His name is Kelechi Mbam.
Kelechi Mbam is a public speaker and public affairs analyst. He was the Director, Directorate of Attitudinal Change, Office of the Ebonyi State Governor, under the past administration.
To the passionate young man, Nigeria’s national anthem should stand as a hallmark of unity, patriotism and nationalism. According to him, it was time the damage inflicted on the anthem was reversed through a national rebirth. He added that there was need to maintain the sacredness and originality of the national ethos.
Mbam opined that in locating the solution to our numerous challenges as a nation and to ensure the survival of the country as an entity, Nigerians must sincerely rise up to the anthem’s clarion call and put its lessons into practice.
On his quest to use the anthem as a veritable tool for common growth, he has embarked on a ground-breaking project, tagged, Work Nigeria Anthem Campaign. He has also launched a handbook, ‘Working the Nigeria Anthem’. The project, according to this man burning with patriotic zeal, is an invitation for everyone to reflect on this important song, which he stressed, had almost been relegated to mere ceremonial lyrics.
Speaking on the ethos in the anthem, Mbam urged Nigerians to unite with a view to surpassing the nation’s challenges.
His words: “Upon independence, our founding fathers captured the belief of unity, patriotism and hard work in their various symbols; the coat of arms, the flag, the pledge and the national anthem. The lessons of the national symbols were also captured in the post-colonial educational curriculum as civics and later social studies. Regrettably, the basic social knowledge disappeared in practical terms in our schools and also in our everyday public lives.
“Today, Nigerians’ moral codes have witnessed series of negative transformations based on the sensitive multi-tribal nature of the people. This gave rise to the prevailing socio-political, economic and security challenges facing the nation today. There is no doubt that the issue of Nigeria’s unity is threatened daily with different ethnic groups calling for cessation. The anti-corruption crusade of the present administration was launched to save Nigeria from the deadly clutches of corruption. Morality and patriotism have been thrown into the dustbin with little or no solution in sight.
“Nigerian governments at all levels have made frantic efforts at re-installing ethical orientation programmes. Such programmes as War against Indiscipline (WAI), Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) and others were geared towards ethical revolution. Unfortunately, the national anthem, which is the major symbol of our national growth and transformation as well as its lesson, has disappeared from the templates of school programmes and everyday life of an average Nigerian. It has been converted to mere ritual for opening official ceremonies rather than working it. The last line of the national anthem reads, ‘One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity,’ but sadly, these three key words are fast disappearing. We can’t say we have complete peace, neither is there freedom nor unity. There is no foundation being laid for our future generation. What is the assurance that our children will be raised with a strong foundation to understand their civic responsibilities as Nigerians?”
Speaking on the project, he disclosed that the campaign is designed to touch every part of the country, adding that it is expected that all the 36 states of the federation and public institutions will key into the idea.
Mbam further noted that it is specifically targeted at students at all levels and Nigerians irrespective of age, sex and tribe.
“Emphasis will be laid on the youths; those in primary and secondary schools as well as the university because these are the strongest change agents in every society. The leaders also have a role to play because they are also meant to lead by example,” he said.
With members of the campaign group drawn from across the country, Mbam informed that plans are underway to partner with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ministry of Information and the academia. He noted that already, the Coal City University, Enugu, had signed into the campaign.
The role of universities in the campaign, Mbam explained, is very crucial as they are the engine room of character moulding and formation. He described the universities as an industry where leaders are meant to be produced through a perfect process.
Even though the project is meant to be self-sustaining, he said it would also be funded through partnership with government agencies, nongovernmental organisations and possibly, donation from cooperate organisations.
With the project campaign kicking off this week to coincide with the Independence Day celebration, Mbam informed that series of activities have been outlined to create awareness.
The programmes include flag-off and presentation of the handbook, enlightenment tours of states, universities, polytechnics and other educational institutions across the country; sensitization tour of federal establishments, public lectures, Work Nigeria anthem Road Walk and distribution of ‘Working the Nigeria Anthem’ workbook.
“There will also be press conferences, radio and television jingles, caller tunes, live broadcast programmes. Billboards and roll-up banners with the campaign message will be erected at strategic places to create awareness. With time, there will also be periodic analysis, reports, monitoring and evaluation of the campaign.”
Calling on all Nigerians to key into the campaign to ensure its success, Mbam stressed that it is a process meant to ensure that the dreams of the country’s founding fathers live on as stipulated in the national anthem.