NAN-H-54
Languages
By Temitope Salami
Erunwon (Ogun), Feb. 21, 2017 (NAN) The Elerunwon of Erunwon in Ogun, Oba Adebayo Okubena, on Tuesday said constant use of indigenous languages would help in the preservation of culture and traditional values.
The monarch said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Erunwon, Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun in commemoration of the United Nation’s International Mother Language Day celebrated annually on Feb. 21.
He said the nation’s indigenous languages were veritable tools in ensuring peace, progress and integration of cultural values in order to promote orderliness and discipline in society.
According to him, the task of reviving the teaching and learning of indigenous languages should not be left to the schools alone but parents and religious bodies as well.
“The uniqueness of the mother tongue and its importance toward teaching and instilling values cannot be over-emphasised.
“The Yoruba language for example, when compared with any other language in the world, has gained prominence even beyond our borders due to its originality, rich culture and values.
“The true identity we have as a people is dependent on our diverse mother tongues and we must seek to protect it from extinction.
“Indigenous languages help transmit cultures, values and traditional knowledge, thus playing an important role in promoting sustainable futures,” Okubena said.
The monarch blamed the lack of morals among youths on the subjugation of cultural values by undue influence of westernisation.
He also urged government at all levels to fully exploit the tourism sector to boost economic development.
The monarch said, if well harnessed, culture and tourism could become good sources of revenue to the country.
He noted that sustenance of cultural and heritage sites were highly imperative and that all hands should be on deck to prevent indigenous values from going into extinction.
“Our traditions and diverse cultures were laid down by our founding fathers and this must be held on to in order to avert the possibility of them going into extinction.
“All stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, must intensify efforts to develop the tourism industry in the country.
“The tourism sector has the potential to create jobs and offer new employment opportunities,” he said.
Okubena described tourism as a rapidly growing phenomenon that had become one of the largest industries in the world.
The traditional ruler attributed some of the challenges in the country to the disconnect between culture and civilisation, saying government must find the right balance.
He urged the youths to utilise their God-given talents and showcase their skills to improve the socio-economic development of the nation.
NAN reports that the International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in November 1999.
The day had been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
The theme for the 2017 edition is: “Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education.” (NAN)
TDS/KOO/OJO
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Mufutau Ojo)