A prominent politician, Segun Sowunmi, has warned that any nation that abandons its indigenous language also loses its identity and risks leaving future generations without a rich cultural heritage.
Sowunmi made the statement while receiving members of the League of Yoruba Media Practitioners (LYMP), Ogun State Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Abeokuta.
He expressed concern over the declining use of the Yoruba language among young people, attributing the trend to the failure of many parents and guardians to encourage their children to speak their mother tongue. He cautioned that neglecting indigenous languages could leave future generations disconnected from their cultural roots.
The politician urged parents, guardians and teachers to take deliberate steps to promote the teaching and speaking of Yoruba, stressing that schools should give indigenous languages the attention they deserve.
Sowunmi also called on radio and television stations, as well as newspaper organisations, to intensify efforts to promote the Yoruba language through their programmes and publications. He commended the League of Yoruba Media Practitioners for its dedication to preserving and promoting the language, describing the group’s efforts as timely and commendable.
He further appealed to Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen policies that would enhance the teaching of the Yoruba language in schools across the South-West and other parts of the country where it is spoken.
Speaking on national issues, Sowunmi praised President Tinubu for what he described as remarkable achievements in governance, particularly in infrastructure development and economic reforms. According to him, the administration’s tax reform initiatives, the removal of fuel subsidy to finance development projects, and the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for students are among the policies that will leave a lasting impact.
The truth need to be told, President Tinubu has delivered commendable results that Nigerians will remember for many years,” he said.
Sowunmi also advised Yoruba people not to allow political differences to create division among them, noting that every citizen has the right to support the political platform of their choice.
He maintained that President Tinubu has more work to do and should be given the opportunity to complete his constitutional eight-year tenure. He therefore urged Yoruba people to support the President in the interest of continuity, stability and national development.