Pa Benedict E. Odiase - 'Arise, O Compatriots' 1934 -2013

Pa benedict E. Odiase

Pa Benedict E. Odiase the patriot who composed Nigeria's national anthem is no more. He died on Tuesday night at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos after a brief illness.

The late Pa Odiase was the Director of Music of the Nigerian Police band, the Police band under his leadership composed Nigeria’s National Anthem ‘Arise O Compatriots’, with lyrics adopted from a combination of words and phrases taken from five entries in a national contest.

"Arise, O Compatriots" is Nigeria's national anthem, It was adopted in 1978, and replaced "Nigeria We Hail Thee". May his soul rest in peace.