The teaching of Yoruba language in public schools in Lagos will soon be made compulsory, the state government has hinted.
This, it said, is part of effort to restore lost Yoruba cultural value as well as preserve the custom, language and heritage of the people.
The government lamented that the imposition of western culture and language on Nigerian children has done a lot of damage to the rich local cultural heritage of the people, adding that Yoruba sons and daughter are daily losing the cultural values inherent in their language.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly at Academy Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode stated that the teaching of Yoruba Language as a subject in all public schools in the state, from primary to junior secondary schools, would be made compulsory so as to enable the region regain its lost cultural value and enable children to be in tune with the norms and cultural values embedded in their language.
Ambode said it is important for growing up children not only to learn the language of their environment, but also the culture and way of life of their people, adding that it is very important for every yoruba child to be able to speak the language fluently as well as acquire adequate knowledge on custom and tradition of the tribe.
The governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, commended members of the State House of Assembly for their efforts at ensuring that the language is not relegated to the background, stressing that their endeavour would further help the state government in the implementation of its policy on the teaching of Yoruba language.
According to him, “We expect that the House would help to make appropriate legislations that would back up government effort at making Yoruba language a compulsory subject in all public schools in the state.”
While noting that previous efforts at making the teaching of the language compulsory in all schools were frustrated by proprietors of private schools, Ambode expressed optimism that the LAHA will do the needful to make the dream a reality.
Earlier, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa, called on parents and teachers to ensure that Yoruba language remains the medium of communication among their children and wards, at home and in schools, adding that such practice would help growing up children learn both the language and its cultural values.
He called on the state government to set a day aside in school calendar year when only the language will be used as a means of communication in all the public schools, urging government to recruit more Yoruba language teachers to promote the teaching of the language in public schools.
While commending traditional institutions for maintaining peace in the region, he charged them as custodians of culture to use their influence and respect to help propagate the use of Yoruba language in all programmes and activities organised in their respective domain.
