My people, let me say this without mincing words: if we do not teach our children our language and our history, we are simply preparing them to become strangers in their own land.
Across the South West and all Yoruba-speaking communities in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to introduce Yoruba Language and Yoruba History as compulsory subjects from primary school level. This is not just about culture; it is about identity, pride, and survival.
Why Language Matters
Language is not just about communication. Language is a carrier of culture, values, and worldview. When a child speaks Yoruba confidently, that child is not just speaking words — he or she is carrying centuries of wisdom, proverbs, songs, and traditions passed down from ancestors.
But look around today. Many Yoruba children cannot even greet properly in Yoruba, talk less of holding a conversation. Parents proudly say their children only speak English, as if that is a badge of honor. Yet, they forget that the English people themselves never abandoned their language for ours.
When we allow our children to lose their mother tongue, we are stripping them of their true identity.
The Importance of History
Equally important is history. For years, history as a subject was removed from Nigerian schools, and that mistake has produced generations who know little about where they come from.
Our children must learn about Oduduwa, the founder of the Yoruba race. They must know about great kingdoms like Oyo, Ife, and Ijebu. They must study leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Samuel Ajayi Crowther. They must understand the culture of “Omoluabi” — the values of respect, honesty, hard work, and community service that define us as Yoruba people.
Without history, a people lose direction. They repeat mistakes of the past because they never learned from them.
Why This Should Be Compulsory
Making Yoruba Language and History optional in schools is not enough. If it is not compulsory, children will avoid it. Parents will discourage it. Over time, the language will fade and the culture will weaken.
But if Yoruba Language and History are made compulsory from primary school, every Yoruba child will grow up grounded in their roots. Just as French children learn French, and Chinese children learn Mandarin, Yoruba children must learn Yoruba.
This is how identity is preserved. This is how culture is protected. This is how history is passed from one generation to another.
Lessons From Other Nations
Look at countries like China, Japan, and Israel. They promote their native languages in schools while still teaching English as a second language. That balance is what has kept their cultures strong in the midst of globalization.
If Yoruba children do not study their roots, they will grow up as cultural orphans — fluent in English, but disconnected from their heritage.
My Call to Leaders
I am calling on governors of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and every Yoruba-speaking community across Nigeria:
Make Yoruba Language and History compulsory in primary schools.
Provide textbooks and resources that reflect Yoruba culture and tradition.
Train teachers who are passionate about passing this knowledge.
Encourage parents to speak Yoruba at home as a first language.
My Call to Parents and Youths
Parents, speak Yoruba to your children at home. Let them grow with it. Youths, don’t feel ashamed to speak Yoruba. English may be the language of business, but Yoruba is the language of your soul.
If we lose our language and history, we lose ourselves. Let us protect them now before it is too late.
