Ogun Former Assembly Aspirant, Wale Bello Gets Promoter of Language Title
Ogun Former Assembly Aspirant, Wale Bello Gets Promoter of Language Title
Yoruba language teachers under the umbrella of ‘Egbe Akomolede ati Asa ile Yoruba’ (Association of Teachers of Yoruba Language and Culture), Abeokuta block have appealed to parents, school owners and Yoruba leaders to promote Yoruba language in Nigeria to preserve the legacies of the Yoruba ancestors.
Chairperson of the division, Olayemi Bolanle Abiodun said this while coffering the tittle of Promoter of Language on the former House of Assembly aspirant for Abeokuta North Local Government, Dr Olawale Bello at his school premises in Lafenwa.
Egbe Akomolede ati Asa ile Yoruba’ (Association of Teachers of Yoruba Language and Culture) is a body of teachers of Yoruba language in both private and government primary and secondary schools across Nigeria.
Dr Wale Bello is a politician and the Proprietor of Comprehensive Academy and also a bonafide member of the association.
The Chairperson of the association explained that Dr Wale Bello has been in the forefront of proprietors who are encouraging and promoting the Yoruba language in their various citadel of learning, hence, the conferment.
She further explained that the association also considered Bello for the tittle because of his humility, diligence and love for the Yoruba culture.
She said “Why we chose him is because olawale Bello is very humble, deligent and he is a promoter and lover of culture. There are some schools that don’t teach Yoruba but here they teach Yoruba.
Speaking with newsmen at the aftermath of the conferment ceremony, Dr Bello stated that he received the title because of the impact of his school (Comprehensive Academy) in the promotion of Yoruba language.
Bello regretted that the Yoruba culture is being ratted as second language, even amongst the original speakers of the language.
His words “I pray that the Yoruba culture will not be tale of Nigeria; we own crude oil but we take it abroad to be refined and the whites will later sold it back to us at huge price. Imagine paying to get something that belongs to us. The same goes for our yoruba culture, we have American citizens who have come to learn our language, if care is not taken, time will come when we will have to be paying foreigners to teach us Yoruba language.
He added “We may have to be employing them as Yoruba lecturers. Foreigners are coming to learning Yoruba language with joy. They already know how to chant Yoruba incantation. It’s getting to a level where we will be going to America to learn Yoruba language.
According to him, the way out is to make Yoruba language as a subject compulsory in schools in all the Yoruba speaking states.
“What I feel we should do is that; Yoruba language as a subject used to be a compulsory in schools in Yoruba speaking states but now it’s no longer compulsory and as a result, must students cannot even write their Yoruba names. Infact, how many parents want their children to speak Yoruba. Let the teachers too intensify their efforts. There are subjects that are best understood when taught in Yoruba language. If students are taught a subject in Yoruba, they will quickly understand.”
