18th June, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday asked the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to begin a compulsory teaching of Yoruba language in all primary and secondary schools in the state.
This is in a bid to save the language from going into extinction.
The House urged that the language should be introduced in both public and private primary schools in the state.
The resolution of the House followed a motion sponsored by Bisi Yusuf, the representative of Alimosho Constituency 1 and seconded by Oladele Adekanye, the representative of Lagos Mainland Constituency 1.
Arguing in favour of the motion, Yusuf lamented the poor attention now being paid to the teaching of Yoruba language in the state even though education curricular designed for the entire federation made the learning of one of three Nigerian languages compulsory in schools.
He pleaded that the language should be rescued from going into extinction.
Olusegun Olulade, another lawmaker, argued that children from countries like Germany, China and France are taught in their languages and that the languages are used as official media of communication.
Yinka Ogundimu lamented that parents have not helped matters as they speak with their children at home in English Language. Ogundimu was supported by Lanre Ogunyemi
The Deputy Majority Leader, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, called for a change of attitude among the Yorubas adding; “if we fail to learn and communicate in our language, we would continue to be led by the developed countries.”
Backing the arguments, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, said there was need to teach Yoruba Language in schools in the state.
He also urged parents to help rescue the language by teaching their wards at home.
The House also urged all its 40 members to go back to their various constituencies to promote the teaching of the language by organising competitions among pupils and students in order to encourage them to be fluent in it.
Apart from this, the House also suggested organising a stakeholder’s parley where officials of the Ministry of Education, educationists, parents, teachers, and others would be invited to brainstorm on the way forward.