Lagos: Prof. Joy Odewunmi of Lagos State University of Education has urged parents to teach their children dialects to prevent the extinction of indigenous languages. Odewunmi also encouraged governments to invest more in teachers of indigenous languages, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage through language education.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Odewunmi made these remarks during the presentation of research findings on indigenous languages, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) 2023 grant. The event took place at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) in Ijaniki, Lagos State. The research, titled ‘Teaching Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Proverbs Using Colouring Books and Interactive Animations for Nigerian Junior Primary Schools,’ highlighted the need for innovative teaching methods to engage young learners.
Odewunmi stressed the importance of making native languages appealing to children, stating, “Parents should speak to their children in their native languages. I know the brain has the capacity to learn 10,000 languages. Speak to them in your mother tongue and make the language attractive.” She pointed out a significant gap in learning and proficiency in speaking Nigerian languages among the youth, linking it to the 2022 National Policy on Education, which prescribes mother tongues as a medium of instruction for primary pupils.
Dr. Ngozi Dom-Anyanwu, a lecturer at the Department of Nigerian Languages, Igbo Unit, LASUED, appealed to the federal and state governments to produce more qualified teachers for indigenous languages. Dom-Anyanwu highlighted the issue of unqualified teachers in the field, stating, “Some teachers of these languages are not qualified. They are not qualified in teaching these languages. Some of them are ill-trained.” She urged for on-the-job training for unqualified teachers to improve their teaching effectiveness.
Prof. Oladayo Akomu of the Department of Nigerian Languages, LASUED, underscored the societal benefits of research, emphasizing the importance of implementing research outcomes. He praised the Lagos State Government for its efforts in promoting indigenous languages and called for further action based on the research findings. “We appeal to the government to look into our recommendation,” Akomu said, encouraging stakeholders to take concrete steps to preserve Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.