By Adewunmi Oluwaseun
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has made a stirring appeal for the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s indigenous languages and cultural identity, describing language as the lifeblood of any people and essential to national development.
Soyinka, who spoke during a visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts at the University of Ilorin, as part of the institution’s maiden Cultural Week, warned that the erosion of native languages poses a threat to Nigeria’s future.
He called for the integration of local languages into formal education, urging schools to make them compulsory.
“Language is not just a means of communication. It is the repository of a people’s memory, history, and creativity,” Soyinka said. “We must read, write, invent, and conduct research in our native tongues if we truly seek progress.”
While acknowledging the importance of global languages, he stressed that this should not come at the expense of Nigeria’s diverse linguistic heritage, noting the existence of over 300 native languages across the country.
Soyinka encouraged young Nigerians to reconnect with their roots by embracing traditional foods, music, and indigenous knowledge systems that once offered practical solutions to everyday problems.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, hailed Soyinka’s visit as a moment of pride, noting that the newly established cultural centre was built with visionaries like Soyinka in mind.
He expressed optimism that the centre would become a global hub for cultural scholarship, especially with Soyinka’s endorsement.
Soyinka’s message was clear: for Nigeria to rise, its people must first rediscover themselves.
