Soyinka, Ishola Make Case For Yoruba Language

Soyinka, Ishola Make Case For Yoruba Language

First Published Thursday, April 4, 2013
BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN-NOBEL Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has urged Yoruba sons and daughters to ensure that the language and culture of the Yoruba land do not go into extinction.
Soyinka, whose comments aligned with that of a foremost writer, Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola, spoke at the inauguration of Odu'a Hall of Fame and Museum at Cocoa House, Ibadan, yesterday.

At the programme organised by Odu'a Investment Company Limited, Soyinka lamented the extent to which things had derailed for the Yoruba nation and the country at large when peoples' heritage and monuments were allowed to waste away.
Soyinka, who was a special guest at the event, said: "This cooperative building (Cocoa House) was a victim of deterioration simply because the normal facilities that were in place at inception had decayed. Cocoa House could not save itself.

"There is need to right the wrongs. With this initiative (Hall of Fame), I see the beginning of Yoruba technology. I am happy that appeal had been made earlier on the need to develop our culture.

"There is one negative aspect. Not just Ibadan, not just the South-West, but the country and its institutions just went into downward spin, including the premier university."
He, however, expressed optimism that things had begun to take shape, saying "what I have seen today shows that things are being brought into proper shape. We can say that Cocoa House is the contemporary Opa Oranyan of the Yoruba."

Soyinka commended the management of Odu'a Investment for "resuscitating and re-invigorating what is so essential to us as a people."

Ishola said: "The idea behind setting up the Hall of Fame and museum is good. But what will help is the preservation and promotion of Yoruba language so that the younger generation can imbibe the culture of Omoluabi.

"Odu'a must find a way of teaching the younger generation the Yoruba language. Let writers write folk tales and short stories that could be developed into cartoon."

Oodua Progressive Union inaugurates Yoruba language school in Holland

Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre

First published Thursday, July 26, 2012


The Yoruba in the Diaspora under the aegis of Oodua Progressive Union, Holland, have taken a giant step aimed at saving their children from committing mother tongue suicide, as it inaugurated the First Yoruba Language School in Holland.

His Royal Highness Chris Ikechukwu Nwangwu (The Igwe of the Igbo Communities in The Netherlands), presenting the membership certificate to the coordinator of Oodua Progressive Union in Europe, Akogun Banji Ojo, while Mr. Ayodeji Okele (Information technology director of OPU) looks on with utmost satisfaction.

In an impressive ceremony held in Holland recently, the European coordinator of the association, Chief Banji Ojo praised the spirit of Odua and the tireless efforts of Otunba Gani Adams for making the day and the inauguration of the school a dream come true." We have to thank God Almighty, the Eledua, the spirit of Oduduwa and the untiring efforts and struggles of Otunba Gani Adams, the President, Oodua People's Congress, for making today's event possible and realizable."

Chief Ojo revealed that "My thanks know no bound, as today marks a very important era in the lives of all Yorubas in Europe. First, today marks a year when Otunba Adams launched this association here. Two, today is the official membership certificate presentation for members and officers and the great one, today, a Yoruba language school is being inaugurated." He reminded the members that "the certificate which is being handed to you on behalf of Otunba Adams today by me is a testament of the sacred responsibilities expected of you as the standard bearers of the totality of what make the Yorubas who they are. You must not fall below the benchmark of the omoluabi concept which distinguishes a Yoruba man from the crowd of races."

Chief Ojo charged the members to always remember the motto of the association,viz, social and economic advancement of the Yoruba race, political emancipation of the race in any part of the world and the propagation of the cultural heritage and the rejuvenation of the mores, the norms, culture and values from generation to the next. He pointed out that it is in this spirit that "We are inaugurating the first ever Yoruba language school in Holland, as propelled by Otunba Adams who fervently believes that we must save the Yoruba language from generational extinction, particularly among the Yorubas in diaspora."

Chief Ojo commended one of the Yorubas in Diaspora, Chief Tunji Lanihun, for donating Yoruba compliant computers to the school, adding that "there is no excuse for any of us now. The school is here for our children and some of our wives who are non Yoruba."

Lagos Assembly makes Yoruba language compulsory in public, private schools
By Wole Oyebade  on February 11, 2016 

Worried by the dwindling popularity of Yoruba language among residents of the state, the Lagos State House of Assembly has directed that teaching and learning of the language be made compulsory in all public and private schools in the state. The House, in a Motion, ruled that Yoruba language should be taught for at least three periods in a week for proper effect.

Members of the House, on the seventh year anniversary since the adoption of Yoruba language for Thursdays’ plenary, bemoaned the non-familiarity with the language often called “vernacular” in schools, particularly the private ones, just as the “ban” on speaking Yoruba and other indigenous languages in some homes is not helping matters. To salvage the situation, the house, therefore, called on governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the state Deputy Governor/ Commissioner for Education Dr. Idiat Adebule, to take a quick step in ensuring that the syllabus of public and private schools in the state makes the teaching and learning of Yoruba language compulsory.

Also, “That we should convey a Stakeholders’ Summit to look at the challenges in teaching Yoruba in schools as well as to ensure that Yoruba Language is taught at least three times in a week both in private and public schools.” Prime mover of the motion and the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, said that it was high time the state government rose in defence of the language and Yoruba culture that are fast nearing extinction.


Agunbiade added that it had become necessary to call a meeting of the Tutor General, Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and all other stakeholders in education sector to know their problems in teaching the language.


According to him, “Most schools today do not speak Yoruba language again and other indigenous languages. In fact, many parents frown at their children speaking Yoruba. We should ensure that Yoruba language does not go into extinction. Other people embrace their language, we should also be proud of ours.