VC fears for extinction of Nigerian culture
Vice-Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Abdulrasheed Na'Allah, yesterday warned that Nigerian culture and tradition may become extinct if efforts are not made to revive them.
He specifically referred to the Ilorin emirate community in Kwara State which he noted was blessed with rich culture, traditions and folklores which have distinguished the city, but noted that some aspects of the culture have virtually become extinct.
Na'Allah, a Professor of English, Comparative Poetics and Performance, was delivering the second public lecture titled, "Contributions of Ilorin Islamic Oral Genres to Yoruba Tradition" organised by Centre for Ilorin Studies, University of Ilorin.
He cautioned that Ilorin might lose its rich culture and tradition to the current obsession with foreign languages and traditions, saying that many people are fond of speaking English to their children.
"You have never been to even Lagos, let alone London or New York City, you are just in Ilorin and you speak English to your children. It just baffles me because these children, if you look at the English they speak, it is terrible. So you are starting your child with terrible, rotten English that is even more terrible than Pidgin", he said.
He stressed that adopting foreign language and culture is not a yardstick for development, observing that most citizens of China, which is one of the largest economies in the world, do not speak English.
"For us, we are so eager to forget our own language, to forget our culture, to forget our tradition and I want to say that Ilorin, which is the topic of this discussion, is making a major mistake. If it continues this way."
The Grand Khadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Salihu Mohammed, also expressed regret that Nigeria is losing its identity which is not good for the growth and development of the country.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
John Mayokun Dada Olosi Of Osi Olayinka Olaogun Kolo Funmilayo Mohammed Neo Mundo Ltd Maimunat Oniyangi Galadima Suleiman Abubakar Olabimpe Olani Olokoba Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union Kwara Apc Dan-Kazeem Council Of The Wise Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement Mukhtar Shagaya Oko Baakini Ramat Oganija Communication Network Support Services Abikan AbdulQowiy Olododo AbdulGaniyu Kareem Kwara State Television Toyin Sanusi CELF Gwanara ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited Okiki Trader Moni Kwara Volleyball Association Ayo Salami Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita Oko Erin Funmi Salau Kwara State Council Of Chiefs Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani Oke-Ogun Muhammadu Buhari Tafidan Kaiama Tanke Road Sa\'adu Gambari Usman Rifun Abdulrazaq Magaji Y.A. Abdulkareem Magaji Nda Donatus Ejidike Musa Ayinla Yeketi Abdulwaheed Musa Kola Olota Segun Ogunsola Oniwasi Agbaye Bolakale Ayo Kunle Akogun Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade Biliaminu Aliu Ayinde Oyepitan Ayekale College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Bilikisu Oniyangi Abubakar Usman Jos Kudirat Arinola Lawal Adamu Jemilat-Baki Alapansapa Odogun Olushola Gabriel Bio Ibrahim Mohammed Abdulahi Peter Amogbonjaye Yakubu Danladi Ahmed Shuaib Buranga Agbarere Femtech Moses Salami Jimoh Bashir

