Youths' mastery and gaps in dialect learning, recognized by a professor.
In a significant development, professors from the College of Language and Communication Arts Education at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) have issued a call to action to preserve indigenous languages in Nigeria.
During a presentation of research findings, titled 'Teaching Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Proverbs Using Colouring Books and Interactive Animations for Nigerian Junior Primary Schools', Prof. Joy Odewunmi emphasized the importance of parents teaching their children indigenous languages to prevent their extinction. She highlighted that the brain has the capacity to learn 10,000 languages, making it crucial to make speaking of native languages attractive to children.
Prof. Odewunmi expressed concern over the continuous decline in the use of indigenous languages, particularly among the youth. She pointed out a renewed national pronouncement about adherence to teaching primary pupils in their mother tongue. However, she noted a gap in learning and proficiency in speaking Nigerian languages among the youth. The 2022 National Policy on Education prescribes the use of mother tongues as a medium of instruction for primary pupils, and the three major Nigerian languages for junior secondary schools.
Dr Ngozi Dom-Anyanwu, another lecturer at LASUED, appealed for the production of more teachers on indigenous languages by federal and state governments. She noted that some current teachers are not qualified or ill-trained in this area.
Prof. Oladayo Akomu, another researcher involved in the study, praised the Lagos State Government for its efforts in promoting indigenous languages. He noted that all Lagos State tertiary institutions now offer Yoruba at the level of general studies. He urged the government to work on the outcomes of the research and to look into their recommendations.
The research, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) 2023 grant, focused on teaching Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba Proverbs using coloring books and interactive animations for Nigerian Junior Primary Schools. The article was published by an unspecified publisher, with no specific date provided.
The call for action to preserve indigenous languages is not unique to Nigeria. Governments at both the federal and state levels in countries like Germany and others are being called upon to invest more in teachers for indigenous languages to prevent their extinction. This call typically involves education ministries and policymakers responsible for funding and supporting language education programs.
Prof. Akomu concluded by expressing his concern about the usual practice in the past where stakeholders did not always work on the outcomes of research of this nature. He urged all parties involved to take action to preserve and promote indigenous languages in Nigeria.
The event took place at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijaniki, Lagos State. The article was edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Ijeoma Popoola.
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