Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has been called upon to make the teaching of Yoruba language in primary and secondary schools compulsory in the state in order to prevent the language from going into extinction.
The call was made by the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday after adopting a resolution on a motion to revive teaching of the language in schools in the state.
It was moved by Hon. Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1) and seconded by Hon. Oladele Adekanye (Lagos Mainland 1).
All the 40 members of the Lagos House were advised to return to their various constituencies to promote the teaching of the language by organizing competitions among pupils and students to encourage youngster to be fluent in communicating with the language.
The House also initiated holding a stakeholder’s parley where Ministry of Education officials, educationists, parents, teachers, among others would be invited to brainstorm on the way forward.
Yusuf, moving the motion lamented the poor attention currently being paid to the teaching of Yoruba language which he argued had made Yoruba sons and daughters communicate poorly in the language.
He added: “This is in spite of the fact that education curricular designed for the entire federation made the learning of one of three Nigerian major languages compulsory in schools.
He said that with such neglect, the Yoruba culture and tradition, known to be very rich and full of wisdom, had been abandoned as the language is considered by some to be that of bush people.
Yusuf thus called for urgent rescue steps to ensure that the language is not allowed to die.
Other Lawmakers, Olusegun Olulade (Epe 2), Yinka Ogundimu (Agege 2) and Lanre Ogunyemi (Ojo 2), argued in support of teaching Yoruba language in Lagos schools, noting that other countries like Germany, China and France used their languages as official medium of communication.
They then wondered why teaching and communicating in Yoruba language should receive poor attention by parents and children generally.
They noted that parents should be blamed for communicating with their children at home in English language, rather than making the home the first school for any child.
Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa said there was need to insist on proper teaching of Yoruba language in schools in the state and advised parents not to not fail to communicate in the language with their children at home so as to awake their love for it.
Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh (Apapa 2), urged for a change of attitude on the part of all concerned, saying: “If we fail to learn and communicate in our language, we would continue to be led by the developed countries”.
