From Anthem To Action: Call to Restoration of Truth and Value in Nigeria -By Ezra Hassan Ngaruru

Nigeria is a nation rich in legends, legends of struggle, resilience, sacrifice, and hope. These legends are not only found in history books or in the names of heroes, but also in symbols that were carefully created by our own legends to guide the nation. One of such symbols is the National Anthem. Sadly, in today’s Nigeria, these legends have become legendary but weak, not because they lack power, but because many people no longer respect or live by the truth they carry.

The Nigerian National Anthem is not just a song to be sung at assemblies or official events by pupils. It is a statement of values, truth, honesty, labour, unity, justice, and faith in the nation, which gives meaning to the country, call giant of Africa. However, many Nigerians sing it without understanding it, and others understand it but choose to ignore it. This neglect reflects a deeper national problem; lack of peace during election periods, tension from within the nation on our leaders, government and the parliament, lack of peace of mind at citizens residence, cause by the rejection of truth when it demands responsibility, which has grown to a giant of fear, to both leaders and citizens.

The Anthem: A Truth We No Longer Obey

Lines such as “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain” carry a heavy moral responsibility. The truth here is clear, the sacrifices of the past demand integrity in the present. Yet corruption, dishonesty, and selfishness continue to grow, which leads to the failure of “Though tribe and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand”. We celebrate the anthem with our lips, but deny it with our actions, and today we call our self in different ways but the same great nation, why not become one, after all the result is peace, so why not become one?

This is how legends become weak, not because they are false, but because people refuse to submit to their truth, “Our flag shall be a symbol, that truth and justice reign, and we all can see the hope “To hand onto our children a banner without stain”, as individual equip your mind to prosperity, that’s a way out.

Are universities, producing graduates or values?

Nigeria’s universities were meant to produce leaders, thinkers, and nation-builders. Today, they produce large numbers of amazing graduates, but many of these graduates lack commitment to truth, ethics, and responsibility. Education has become more about certificates than character, because many of them don’t understand the labour of our heroes past, and also fails to made it an responsibility in their heart, to never let the labour to be in vain.

This is not to say all students are bad, but the system often fails to reward honesty and hard work. Examination malpractice, cultism, fraud, and moral compromise have found their way into academic spaces. When students pass through universities without being shaped by truth, they enter society prepared to repeat the same problems they were meant to solve, so where is the impact, Nigeria needs impactful individuals not one with pride and problems. A nation cannot rise above the values taught or tolerated within its educational institutions.

Why Do Young People Laugh at Truth?

One of the most troubling signs of today’s Nigeria is how young people mock truth when it is spoken to them, even when they are part of the problem being addressed. Truth has become uncomfortable, and instead of correcting themselves, many choose to laugh, argue, or dismiss it as “old school.” This happens for several reasons: Truth demands discipline, and discipline is often seen as oppression, society rewards shortcuts, so honesty looks foolish, hypocrisy among leaders makes truth appear unreal or useless, peer pressure encourages rebellion against moral standards. Ironically, the same young people who laugh at truth often suffer the consequences of ignoring it, failed systems, unemployment, insecurity, and loss of direction. The anthem kick the point, “Help us to build a nation, where no man is oppressed, and so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed”, we most act in building the nation, before God will help us maintain peace and more.

Shared Responsibility, Shared Future

The weakness of Nigeria’s legends is not, the fault of the anthem, the universities, or the youth alone. It is a shared failure of citizens and leaders who do not lead by example, institutions that prioritize numbers over values, and citizens who reject truth unless it benefits them, we need to change the future.

Yet, there is hope.

Truth does not die because people laugh at it. It waits, legends do not disappear because they are ignored, they remain, calling each generation back to responsibility.

Nigeria does not lack truth; it lacks obedience to truth. Our legends are still legendary, but they appear weak because we refuse to live by them. If the National Anthem is to regain its power, if universities student will agree to become real leaders, and if young people are to become agents of change, then truth must be respected again not as a speech, but as a lifestyle.

Only then can Nigeria move from singing about greatness to truly becoming great, God bless Nigeria.