Centre calls for legislation for promotion of indigenous language in Nigeria

The international media centre has called for a legislation that will compel civil servants to set aside a day for use of mother tongue as official language across Nigeria.

The centre noted that though it was not against the use of English Language as Lingua-franca, it insisted that there must be a space for the promotion of mother tongue to save the country’s rich cultural heritage from extinction.

Speaking with journalists on the side line of the 8th annual public lecture of the centre on mother tongue held in Ilorin, the convener, Jolaolu Afolabi (aka Jabulani) praised the Lagos state government for already taking the lead in that direction.

Afolabi who is a radio broadcaster, however said there was the need for other state of assemblies to follow suit by setting aside a day for the promotion of mother tongue.

‘‘Government should set aside a day that will make it compulsory for everybody, especially the civil servants to speak our mother tongue.

‘‘I don’t believe in lingua-franca we should give our mother tongue a space, it is expedient that we go back to our way of life’’, he said .

The convener said the essence of the annual lecture being organised by the centre was to raise the advocacy for speaking of mother tongue which according to him was ‘‘fast eroding’’.

Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari who was represented at the occasion by the Magajin Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed urged parents and guardians to raise their children and wards in a manner that they will grow to understand their indigenous culture and tradition