Lagos Government to make Yoruba Language compulsory in schools

The Lagos State Government, LASG has harped on the need to make Yoruba Language a compulsory teaching subject in all schools in the state.

The state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by his deputy Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, made this known on Thursday at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the state House of Assembly at Academy hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

He said the state had concluded plans and that the subject will be taught in primary schools and junior secondary school, JSS 3 across the state.

The Governor, who expressed reservations that government’s previous efforts at making the teaching of the language compulsory in all schools in the state were being frustrated by proprietors of private schools, noted that it was important for children not only to learn the language of their environment, but also the culture and the people’s general way of life.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Ambode expressed optimism that the State House of Assembly will do the needful to make the dream come to reality even as he commended the members 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 make the appropriate legislation that would back up government’s efforts at making Yoruba language a compulsory subject across all schools in the state.