A cultural activist and convener, Gbagede Ewaede Foundation, Princess Adejoke Somoye has decried the disregard for yoruba language, particularly by some parents and educational stakeholders, saying such action has resulted into the reoccurring societal decay which has been stripping the nation of its noble identity.
Somoye disclosed this in an interview in Abeokuta in commemoration of the International Mother Language Day, explaining that "the formation of character, especially at teen age is rooted in the language of birth".
Commending Federal Government for the
recent approval to enable the exclusive usage of the mother tongue for the first six years of education, while it will be combined with English Language from Junior Secondary School, she implored that issues surrounding the promotion of speaking Yoruba language must be given priority by all stakeholders in the South Western States.
According to her, "it is obvious that a pupil who has not been taught about Yoruba rich culture nor the history of his linage with reference to the virtues exhibited by his progenitors, will definitely not accord any importance to the concept of Omoluabi, a summation of the Yoruba moral code of courage, hard work, humility and respect.
"Such pupil is bound to be the bad egg that will pollute the minds of others to engage in social vices"
"We should not leave this collective responsibility to the hands of educational stakeholders alone; therefore, parents should equally re-orientate their children that Yoruba language is not in any way inferior to other languages, but rather a comparative advantage.
Little wonder, foreigners, are now moving enmasse to learn Yoruba languages right within the shores of the nation. I hope they would not be the one to train the real owners of the language in the nearest future", Somoye concluded.
She admonished that all hands must be on deck to salvage our identity, history and heritage which must be fully passed to the up and coming generations without any diminishing effects.