Lagos State Government has concluded plans to make the teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in all its public schools.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State represented by his deputy Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said that the subject will be taught in primary schools and junior secondary schools JSS3 across the state.
He disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders forum organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly at Academy hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja Lagos on the need to make Yoruba Language a compulsory teaching subject in all schools in the state.
According to him, the state government equally noted that the imposition of western culture and language on Nigerian children has done a lot of damage to the rich local cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
Ambode noted that it is important for children not only to learn the language of their environment, but also the culture and people's general way of life.
The governor added that it is very important for every Yoruba child to be able to speak the language very fluently, enriched with adequate cultural norms of the people so as to guarantee a responsible life in the future.
Ambode commended members of the state house of Assembly for their efforts at ensuring that Yoruba language is not relegated to the background, he noted that their effort would further help the state government in the implementation of its policy on the teaching of Yoruba language, adding that the house would help to make appropriate legislations that would back up government efforts at making Yoruba language a compulsory subject in all schools in the state.
The Governor who expressed reservations that government previous efforts at making the teaching of the language compulsory in all schools in the state are being frustrated by proprietors of private schools , expressed optimism that the State House of Assembly will do the needful to make the dream come to reality.
He lauded all the traditional rulers and other notable Yoruba indigenes for gracing the occasion , adding that with their collective will and efforts, the goal of restoring the cultural values of the Yoruba people of Nigeria would be realized.
Earlier in his address, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudasiru Obasa called on parents and teachers to ensure that Yoruba language remains the medium of communication to children and pupils at home and in schools, adding that the efforts would help growing up children to learn both the language and its cultural values.
He called on the state government to set a day aside in the schools calendar in which Yoruba language would be the spoken language in all the public schools, urging government to recruit more Yoruba language teachers to promote the teaching of the language in public schools.
