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.
Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Diagnostic Centre Funke Adedoyin Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran Trader Moni Moremi High School SDP Arinola Lawal Tosho Yaqub Idris Amosa Saidu Akanji Offa Descendants Union April 11 Afeyin-Olukuta Jimba Babatunde Toyin Abdullahi Yahaya A Paniyaro Abubakar Olusola Saraki Okedare Chief Imam Of Lafiagi A.O. Belgore KWASIEC Baba-Isale Sabi Oniyangi Olatomiwa Williams Aremu Odolaye Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla Elerin Of Adanla Tunde Saad Ayobami Seriki Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP) Edret Sabi Abel Yusuf Lawal UNILORIN Alumni Balikis Jawondo All Peoples Party Onilorin Of Ilorin Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa Saraki Wahab Kunle Shittu JMK Construction Company Limited Kaiama Ibrahim Issa Jetti Abubakar Abdulraheem Olatunde Jare Kwara Poly Adekunle David Dunmade Sheu Ndanusa Usman Tunji Arosanyin Kwabes Elekoyangan Aliyu Adebayo Aliyu Kora-Sabi Mike Omotosho Saka Asiat Ayinke Mohammed Abdulahi Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin Ado Bayero NULGE Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria High Court Oluranti Idowu Ola Falade Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku Timothy Olatunde Fadipe Ishola Abdullahi Ile Arugbo Alagbado AbdulQowiy Olododo Busari Toyin Isiaka Olabode Towoju Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency Abdullah Janet Amudat Aso Ofi Hajj Apata Ajele Secondary School

