Reps move to immortalize writer of national pledge

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to immortalize the writer of the National Pledge, late Prof. (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin over her contributions to the advancement of Nigeria as it mandated its Committee on Special Duties to liaise with the relevant Federal Government agencies for its actualization

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matter of urgent public importance titled “Need to Immortalise the Author of the National Pledge, Late Prof. (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin by Hon. Olajide Olatubosun (APC-OYO).

While moving the motion, the lawmaker said, “the House noted that the pledge was written in 1976 by Prof (Mrs.) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin (of blessed memory) who was a princess from the Iji ruling house of Saki, Oyo State.”

He also noted that the motivation for writing the National Pledge was the reality of non-existence of one for Nigeria at the time, unlike other nations like the United States of America and Ghana in West Africa.

He added that the House was aware that the work which contained beautiful and patriotic words, appeared in the Daily Times of July 15 1976, in an article titled “Loyalty to the Nation, Pledge” leading to wide publicity within the nation with the attendant warm reception and acceptance.

He also noted that the House was aware that following the publication, the then Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo made a little modification and introduced the said National Pledge during the formal launch of the Universal Free Primary Education (UPE) and directed that all school children should recite it during morning assembly.

According to him, the House informed that the thoughtful and solemn words of the National Pledge have become an invocation for every Nigerian citizen to serve their fatherland with faithfulness, loyalty and honesty.

He regretted that the iconic composer of the National Pledge passed away on Saturday, 1 May 2021 after a brief illness.

He argued that it was convinced that the contribution of the deceased great Nigerian deserves special acknowledgement by immortalizing her to keep her memories alive.

When the motion was put into voice mail by the Speaker, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila who presided over the plenary, it was unanimously supported by members.

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