Hon. (Chief) Olusola Oke (SAN), a distinguished politician from Ilaje Local
Government Area of Ondo State, said in this interview with Prince Kolawole Oripinye, CEO, Asa Wa Global Communication that to avoid an indigenous language from going extinct, the schools should encourage it from the elementary level.
According to him, a lot of things that could be in your mother tongue are very difficult to interpret in the English language; he however noted that the sign of your culture is your greetings.
“For me, an indigenous language should be encouraged right from the elementary school, not ruling out that the English language is very important too because it makes it easier to communicate with other countries and other tribes.”
Hon. Oke noted that anytime he travels out of the country and hears somebody speaking his indigenous language, he stops because it’s a sign of recognition and culture.
He also added that culture is in songs and dance.
“If we don’t allow our kids to speak our indigenous language from the elementary schools on, they will get lost, and if a language is lost, a culture is lost, and if a culture is lost, a country is lost,” he declared.
He therefore advised the youths not to forget their indigenous culture and also speak their language, and to also learn the borrowed language of English for easy communication with others.
He concluded that anyone who lost his mother tongue lost his culture and his identity.
