I am Nigeria...

I am Nigeria,
Giant of Africa,
That famed Land of Milk and honey,
Home to about 186 million...

Where Sade plays tinko-tinko with her friends,
And helps her mum fry garri at dusk,
Sade, that nine year old girl from Ondo,
Home is what Sade calls me...

Where Emeka is the second of five siblings,
And at 12, no longer goes out to roll tires,
He now learns a trade from his uncle,
A trade that will stoke his innermost fires...
For Emeka is 12, but he has a dream,
To study business by the time he turns eighteen,
Emeka, that rumple headed boy from Nnewi,
Home is what Emeka calls me...

I am Nigeria,
Where Ali and Simbi goes to school,
And Ijapa reigns over our moonlight stories,
Where Gandoki lives a truly charmed life,
And where things never really fall apart...

Home of Afang, Tuwo, And Ewedu,
Where Biripo has handed power to Shaku-shaku,
Everywhere you go, I Glow with pride,
I am Nigeria; Abibas is Adidas, it's just my Aba side...

I am home to Onyeka Onwenu and Yemi Alade,
Where the horse, the man, and his son made Ebenezer Obey,
I am Nigeria, green and white,
Here, honour is given every first of October,
And if the south serves two terms, trust that the north remembers...

So whoever you are, wherever you are,
Kedu, Sannu, Bawo ni,
Here is my heritage, here is who I am,
I am Nigeria, your Nigeria...

Photocredit: Victor Adewale