Hello Compatriot!!!
I pledge allegiance to Nigeria my Fatherland
To foster the spirit of true brotherhood
To live in harmony with all as one under God's own banner
I promise to treasure
Our freedom and cultural heritage
won, and preserved by our faithful fathers
I promise to uphold and defend all that is worthwhile in building
A united Nigeria
So help me God this day
To live true to this high ideals
This patriotic piece was written in June 1976 by Prof. (Mrs.) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin having been inspired by the questions of her children who in their inquisitiveness asked her why their school in Nigeria had no such thing as an oath of allegiance unlike their schools in New York, USA or even in Ghana . this script written by her was later published in the Daily Times on the 15th of July 1976 titled "LOYALTY TO THE NATION,I PLEDGE".
Prof (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin wrote a letter to the then Head of State Gen. Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo and attached a draft of the pledge of allegiance which she drafted to the letter suggesting the need for a pledge in the country and its unquestionable role in the development of morals values in the citizens.
After its publication by the media house, Prof (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin wrote a letter and attached a copy of her work to the letter suggesting the need for a national pledge it was presented to Gen. Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo the then Head Of State who vetted the patriotic piece and then modified into our current national pledge of allegiance.
I pledge to Nigeria, my country
To be faithful, loyal, and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honor and glory
So help me God.
Having modified the work and approved it, a decree was made in September 1976, that all school children should learn and recite it by heart on the assembly ground everyday. as seen in the book written by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo NOT MY WILL on p.118. this decree made by the Head of State coincided with the lauching of the UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION (UPE) now known as UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION (UBE).
Although today, we do not recite the pledge which was drafted by Prof. Adebola but modified version of it, we however honour her for her timely suggestion and patriotic heart.
A pledge as it were is not just to be recited for fun,because it is a solemn oath with great significance. its sole purpose is to first instill in us patriotism and the values of our country, to daily remind us of our national ethos (true democracy, true independence, equality, security among others) which is currently dwindling and dying so that as individual and as a people we can revive it again.
So, my dear compatriot, when next you recite our national pledge, remember that it is a part of our identity, irrespective of what we go through we are Nigerians and we are Nigeria nobody would become that for us so recite it with Pride, decide to indeed uphold Our honour and glory.
So help us God!!!!
Refrences:
olusegun Obasanjo 'Not my will' university press Nigeria, 1990,p.118
Dr.Raphael James blog
wikipedia.com
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