Arise, O compatriots Nigeria's call obey To serve our fatherland With love and strength and faith These are the first four lines of the Nigerian National Anthem. It calls on all the citizens to heed the call of the nation and to serve it with three principles, love, strength and faith. Love for the fatherland, strength in hard times and faith that Nigeria will conquer any obstacle. These are the three characteristics every Nigerian should have. Serving the fatherland means you can be called on to defend Nigeria at any time.

The labour of our heroes past Shall never be in vain. The next two lines remind us not to forget the sacrifices of our founding fathers and people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Examples of these people are Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafewa Balewa , Nigerian soldiers, MKO Abiola etc.
To serve with heart and might One nation bound in freedom Peace and unity. The last three lines add two more things Nigerians need to serve the country- heart and might. If the next line of the anthem is anything to go by, Nigeria is meant to be a progressive country- " bound in freedom. " The last line of the first stanza paints a picture of an ideal Nigeria- united and peaceful.
Oh God of creation Direct our noble cause And guide our leaders right Help our youth the truth to know The first line of the second stanza is a plea to God to help Nigeria with three things- direct the affairs of the nation, help our leaders to make the right decision and give understanding to our young men and women. The plea to God reflects the deep religious sentiments in Nigeria.

In love and honesty to grow And living just and true These two lines are a continuation of the prayer to God, the future of the country should mature with love and honesty, guided by truth. This is the second time love appears in the national anthem.
Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace And justice shall reign. Nigeria is an ambitious country that wants to achieve great things. Peace comes up the second time in the national anthem and ends with the declaration that justice will be supreme. This affirms the popular saying " there can be no peace without justice. "

I love the second stanza is more like a prayer