A case for the sustenance of indigenous languages

THE NEED to include indigenous languages in the school curriculum in nursery schools has been stressed. This is to promote cultural norms and values in the country.This was stated at a press conference to mark the 5th edition of the yearly D. O. Fagunwa Memorial Lecture, scheduled for December 7 at Afe Babalola Hall, University of Lagos, Akoka. Fagunwa wrote different novels in Yoruba language, which depict the richness of Yoruba culture.The lecture will be delivered by Professor Labiyi Yai, from Benin Republic, an Ambassador to UNESCO, based in France.The writing of the late literary icon encapsulates culture and values of the Yoruba with morals that abound in them. He wrote in ijinle Yoruba.Speaking on the need to infuse indigenous languages into the educational system, chairman of the Fagunwa Foundation, Mrs. Ibikunle Sijiwola, noted that 'it is not just enough to teach Yoruba and other languages as subjects in our nursery schools, if we want to develop, we must implement the national policy on education that stipulates that indigenous languages should be at the local level in all ramifications'.She said the aim of the development of local languages, literature and culture cannot be over emphasised with regard to other countries in Europe, Asia, China and Japan that promote their own languages through proper usage, saying they are proud of their culture and heritage.Ibikunle however envisaged that 'if our children are using the indigenous languages at the nursery level, they will speak them well and also read literatures fluently in them'.Meanwhile, the chairman, organizing committee of the foundation, Chief Olu Falomo, said it had become imperative for our languages to be used often as this would further buttress out cultural values and norms. He stated, 'We need to display a high level of universality in terms of propagating our own languages here, and this lecture will bring to fore economic co-operation, cultural co-operation and cultural diversity'.He urged the government not to neglect indigenous languages or allow them fade away but to make it mandatory in the educational so it can play its role inFagunwa's novels cut across such subjects as love stories, foods, and satires, among others. They include Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irumole (1950), Ireke-Elegbeje (1949), Igbo Oludumare (1949), Irinkerindo Ninu Igbo Elegbeje (1954) amongs others. They are currently being translated into different international languages like French, English and German.
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