‘Nigeria we hail thee’, the new old anthem is rendered for the first time on the podium of a global sports fiesta – Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Great thanks to Onyinyechi Mark who apart from leading a pack of women iin the 61kg power-lifting, she set a new record in her gold medal lift.

It means that ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ will be rendered on the podium. This is the first time this will happen in the frame work of a global event apart from the sectional Commonwealth Games.

 ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ was initially the Nigeria national anthem from October 1, 1960 to the same date in 1978.  It was readopted later this year.

 In the first period it was used, Nigeria featured at the Olympic Games at Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1960 and Munich 1972 as Montreal 1976 was boycotted.

 At the period, Nigeria did not win any gold medal that would have necessitated the rendering of ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ on the podium.

 When Nigeria first won gold medals at the Barcelona ‘92 Paralympics and then at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics. At the time, the Nigerian National anthem was ‘Arise O Compatriot’ which was dropped earlier this year.