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.
Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa Bayer AG Toun Okewale-Sonaiya Imam Gambari Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa Sulyman Abdulkareem Oko-Olowo Shehu Alimi Foundation Obayomi Azeez Roheemat Hammed Busari Alabi Alausa Abubakar B.M Igbaja AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah Jumoke F. Ajao Haleeman Salman Christopher Tunji Ayeni Bello John Olanrewaju Folorunsho Erubu Stephen Fasakin Yemi Osinbajo Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku Sulyman Age AbdulKareem Aminat Omodara Saduki Lafiagi Ohoro Of Shao Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah Olufolake Abdulrazaq Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke Offa Metropolitan Club JSSCE Asa LGEA School Salary Kwara Restoration Project Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development College Of Health Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu Peter Obi Ibrahim Taiwo Ibraheem Adeola Katibi Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence Sola Saraki Educational Foundation Oya State Col. Adedipe Abdulrauf Aliyu NIPR Funmilayo Mohammed Salaudeen Oyewale Femi Oladiji QuickWin Nigeria Computer Society Aliyu U. Tilde Ilorin Like-Minds Kabir Shagaya Olatunde Oyeyiola Earlyon Technologies Habeeb Saidu Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria Maimunat Oloriegbe ER-KANG Mining Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Emir Of Shonga Towoju Jide Ashonibare ER-KANG Mamatu Abdullahi Haruna Tambiri Mohammed Tunde Saad ITP Post-utme United Nigeria Congress Party Amos Justus Sayo Oke-Ero Abdulrasaq Alaro Taiwo Joseph Local Government Pension Board Muritala Olarewaju

