LASU Yorùbá Week urges for preservation of language, culture for national growth

Gideon Adonai 

The Lagos State University Centre for Yoruba Studies celebrated Yorùbá Week 2024 with a Public Lecture themed: Preservation of Yoruba Language and Cultural Heritage for National Development on Tuesday, 29th October 2024.

The Yorùbá Week  is an annual celebration aimed at promoting the role of language in fostering societal values and community development.

The event highlighted LASU’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting Yoruba culture, with attendees from academia, government, and traditional institutions engaging in discussions about the future of the Yoruba language and heritage. 

Professor Ayo Ayodele, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, while making his welcome  speech, commended Prof. Ahmed Adesanya, Director, Centre for Yoruba Studies, for organising the event, which he called a vital step toward reviving Yoruba language and culture. 

Prof. Ayodele emphasised the role of language as a core element of identity and history, intricately woven into all aspects of life, including science and technology. He urged greater attention to Yoruba traditions and language, warning against the risks of prioritising foreign languages, which can weaken cultural connections for future generations. 

Director, Centre for Yoruba Studies, Prof. Ahmed Adesanya, in his eloquent welcome address delivered in Yoruba language, reinforced the importance of nurturing the language, cautioning that it risks extinction if not actively spoken and taught. He encouraged parents to take pride in Yoruba heritage by passing on the language to their children, stressing that Yoruba is more than just a means of communication, "...it embodies the essence of our identity and legacy."

Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof Olufunso Omobitan formally inaugurated the lecture, welcoming guests and emphasising the relevance of the theme in strengthening national unity. She remarked that Yoruba, as a language, embodies the worldview and wisdom of the Yoruba people and serves as a bridge to their heritage and history. She expressed concern over the effects of globalisation on indigenous languages, stressing the need for collective action to preserve Yoruba as a vessel of creativity and unity. 

Prof. Olatunji-Bello highlighted the decline of Yoruba studies within Nigeria’s universities, pointing out that while over 35 universities in the United States now offer Yoruba as a course, only 11 Nigerian institutions include it in their curricula. She called for greater support from stakeholders, including the government, to bolster Yoruba language programmes, reflecting on how Lagos State Government’s initiatives enabled LASU’s Centre for Yoruba Studies. She voiced hope that Yoruba Week would spark collaborative efforts toward a future that values and protects Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. 

Oni Ladaba of Ladaba, HRM Alayeluwa Oba Nureni Sikiru Odedina (Alugbin I), also shared his insights, laying emphasis on the strong connection between language and cultural identity. He praised neighbouring countries for proudly promoting their native languages while pushing for the Yoruba people not to lose their rich culture. He also encouraged all Nigerian institutions to follow LASU’s lead in celebrating and preserving Yoruba culture. Oba Odedina further called on the other traditional rulers who are the custodians of culture to champion language preservation and urged the yoruba people, communities, and schools to join the crucial mission of preservation as their collective responsibility. 

The keynote speaker, Otunba Francis Oluwagbenro Meshioye, OFR, Supreme Head (Olori Oluwo) of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, spoke on three key challenges: educational reform, sustainable development, and cultural preservation. He urged schools to adopt more practical approaches that enable students to engage in meaningful discussions in Yoruba and emphasised the importance of implementing consistent language policies. He called for a robust legal framework to protect Yoruba identity rights, as such protections are essential to fostering unity and inclusivity.

The event saw additional contributions from the Director, School of Part-Time Studies, Prof. Danoye Oguntola-Laguda, and Prof. Ayo Yusuf from the University of Lagos, who enriched the discussions with their insightful contributions.

The celebration was enlivened with cultural performances, chants, and music from the LASU Cultural Troupe, bringing Yoruba traditions to life and enriching the atmosphere. 

The event concluded with plaques of appreciation presented to Prof. Olatunji-Bello, the keynote speaker, and Oba Odedina. 

We are LASU. We are Great!