The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has expressed heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended families of the composer of the NYSC Anthem, Rev. Dr. Oluwole Oladejo Adetiran who passed on recently.
According to a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Scheme, Mr. Eddy Megwa, the Ex-Corps Member was a member of the National Youth Service Corps of the 1983/84 service year.
He carried out his Primary Assignment at The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State during which he composed the three stanzas of the anthem, “Youth Obey the Clarion Call, Let us lift our nation high.”
The statement also noted that the Director-General of NYSC , Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim during his visit to late Adetiran at his country home, Mowe-Ibafo in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, South West Nigeria last year, described him as a rare legend whose musical inspiration through the lyrics of NYSC Anthem has instilled the spirit of patriotism in many youths who are now leaders in different fields of endeavour.
Ibrahim said that Adetiran was a national hero, whose legacies became a source of inspiration for successive batches of Corps Members.
He added the he would be remembered for the good works he had done to promote national unity Nigeria.
The late composer of NYSC Anthem who was a music graduate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, served as a lecturer, Head of Music Department and as a Dean at The Polytechnic, Ibadan for many years before he retired from active service.
Before his demise, Adetiran was the National Music Director of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).
He was born on 8th September 1948 in Igbajo in the then Western Region, to the family of Adetiran of Obaloja Compound, Igbajo, now Osun State.
Adetiran started his elementary education at the Baptist Day School, Igbajo before moving to Ibadan, Oyo State where he became a street musician and also joined the church choir at First Baptist Church, Idi–ikan, Ibadan.
He learnt the art of playing guitar from a Gold Coast returnee, Mr Dapo Taiwo and became a preferred guitarist amongst his mates in 1963; and a Cathedral Organist in 1965.
His musical talent showed him off at the Baptist Teacher Training College where he was appointed as the Social Prefect and the Choir Director.
While undergoing the compulsory NYSC scheme in 1984 as a Youth Corps member serving at The Polytechnic Ibadan, he composed the National Youth Service Corps anthem and that is what is still being used till date.
He established the first Department of Music Technology at The Polytechnic Ibadan, which he headed for eleven years. He also became the first Lecturer in the Music Technology Department to become a Senior Principal Lecturer in the Music Department of the Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Adetiran later joined the Celestial Church of Christ at Army Barracks Road Parish, Mokola, Ibadan, under the Shepherdship of Late MSE Moses Obasa Adekanmbi, in the early 1970s.
Until his demise, he was the Music Director of Celestial Church of Christ, worldwide and the Founding Rector of CCC Academy of Music Technology, Lagos, Nigeria.
“May his gentle soul rest in peace”, he prayed.
Ime N