...As Education District 1 Marks International Mother Language Day In Style
AgegePulse Magazine
When Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode signed the bill on the preservation and promotion of Yoruba Language into law recently, many were of the opinion that it's another beautiful law meant to be active on paper. But, barely two weeks into the approval, the beauty of the cultural heritage of Yoruba race was colourfully exemplified on Wednesday February 21st when International Mother Language Day was celebrated across Lagos schools.
It is no more news that the Lagos State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Honourable Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has been on the front seat of promoting and preserving Yoruba Language in the state, through it's commitment to holding Thursdays plenary sessions in Yoruba Language.
At an event which was organized by the United Nations Information Centre, UNIC in collaboration with Lagos Education District One, students, teachers, and school managers exhibited the beauty of Yoruba culture to the world through parade of colourful traditional attires, cultural rendition of poems and effective manipulations of cultural articles like talking drums, calabash and many more.
An elated National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre Nigeria, Dr Oluseyi Soremekun could not hold his enthusiasm after seeing exquisite rendition of Yoruba Language by students of the district.
Dr Soremekun commended the Lagos State Government for making Yoruba Language a compulsory subject in its schools. He said the signing of the Yoruba Language Promotion and Preservation Bill into Law Correlates with the 2018 theme of the IMLD tagged ‘Linguistic diversity and Multilingualism Count for Sustainable Development’.
While addressing students and teachers at Vetland School Agege, on the occasion of the 2018 International Mother Language Day, Dr Soremekun said, "We greet our amiable Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode because our governor is someone that takes the culture and tradition of the Yoruba language very important by putting up policy to ensure the language doesn't fade off. However, I call on other State Governments to emulate Lagos State and make compulsory, the indigenous languages in their States.
"Language is culture. Culture is a way of life. It manifests in thoughts, dressing, music, dances, foods, etc. Be proud of your mother tongue. Learn it. Speak it. Use it. Teach the younger ones." Dr Soremekun added.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary and Tutor General of EDDI, Dr (Mrs) Olufolayimika Abiose Ayandele, was overwhelmed by how fluently, clearly and deeply students manipulated the Yoruba Language while making 'Ifa' (Yoruba Deity) consultations and poetry rendition to commemorate the day.
In a chat with Agege Pulse, Dr. Ayandele who dressed in blue-shining "Aran" (Yoruba Ceremonial Robe) cloth advised that Yoruba's rich culture should go beyond dressing, noting that the people's character, attitude and behaviour as Yorubas should promote sustainable peace in the land.
The award winning Doctor urged the gathering to cultivate the ability to learn more than one language. She commended the student for their comportment and maverick display of Yoruba articles denoting it's rich cultural heritage.
"These wonderful performances in Yoruba Language, display of our articles and fashion styles is an indication that Yoruba Language is safe in Education District 1, Lagos and Nigeria at large.
"Our unalloyed appreciation goes to Lagos State Government. From the Lawmakers to the Executives and other concerned stakeholders who strived to ensure the promotion and preservation of Yoruba Cultural Heritage became a law in the state, I strongly believe we have taken a step in the right direction which will be appreciated by generations to come." Dr Ayandele asserted.
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