Soyinka emphasises need to promote local languages for national development

Noble laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has emphasises need to promote Nigeria’s local languages and culture, for national development.

Soyinka made the call on Monday, while answering questions from newsmen after his visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts, University of Iloirn, as part of activities leading to the institution’s maiden Cultural Week.

He said that a language was repository of a people and community, so it’s good to encourage young people to understand the language of their forefathers.

According to Soyinka, it is a beautiful tool for expression.

“In the last head count it was discovered that there were 300 languages in Nigeria.

“We need to learn foreign languages that is spoken and recognised around the world, to develop ourselves and the country, but this should not be to the detriment of our local language.

“We need to learn to read, write and invent in our local languages, even before we think or compose in other languages, to be able to conduct research and develop our country.

The noble laureate said that there was need to introduce the old days traditional ways of living to the modern ways, in order to get a good result of cultural value.

“This is by introducing the local foods, songs and ways of solving issues in the past to the modern day living.

“We can start by asking our mothers how they did it perfectly in the past and use the method on our children.

“This is for them to be knowledgeable about their origin and make judicious use of the method, to solve many issues in their present,” Soyinka advised.

He said that there was need for local languages to be made compulsory in schools and Nigerians to know their history and culture, for them to be proud of their heritage.

“We need to cherish our culture and traditions as an African country, in order to maintain our dignity and value.

Earlier, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, described Soyinka’s visit as a moment of pride and historical importance to the institution.

Egbewole expressed the collective joy of the academic community at hosting a global cultural figure of Soyinka’s stature.

He noted that the establishment of the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts was inspired by a vision that aligned closely with the noble laureate’s lifelong dedication to arts and humanities.

The Vice Chancellor revealed that the Centre was conceptualised with figures like Soyinka in mind, saying that the initiative was born out of genuine intentions to contribute meaningfully to cultural scholarship and global discourse.

He explained that the vision for the Centre had been nurtured over time and has now materialised with students enrolled in programmes across various levels, including diploma, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

The Vice Chancellor expressed optimism that the Centre would grow to become one of the foremost institutions of its kind globally, especially with the involvement and endorsement of Prof. Soyinka.