Pa Odiase

Pa Benedict Odiase (1934 – June 12, 2013) was a Nigeria composer who composed "Arise, O Compatriots," the national anthem of Nigeria. "Arise, O Compatriots," which was adopted in 1978, replaced the country's previous national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee".

Odiase was born and raised in 1935 in the now defunct Bendel State (now split between present-day Edo State and Delta State). Odiase died from a short illness on June 12, 2013, at the age of 79.