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.
Adisa Logun Isapa National Pilot Gbajabiamila Amusement Park Age AbdulKareem Kumbi Titilope Kwara-SAPZ Project Fatimah Abdulkadir Isiaka Oniwa Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran Azeez Salawu Taofeek Sanusi Oluronke Adeyemi NSCIA Gobir Bola Magaji Principal Private Secretary Kwara State University Of Education Kayode Ogunlowo Ojo Fadumila Ileloke Ilofa Taiwo Joseph Esinniobiwa Quareeb George Innih Yusuf AbdulRasheed Mike Omotosho Vishvas KOZ Tractors Wahab Olasupo Egbewole Bolaji Gambari Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir Na\'Allah Ibrahim Oloriegbe Gamji Members Association Ahmad Lawan Lai Gobir Kayode Alabi Abikan Dan Iya Of Ilorin Kwara Poly Jamila Bio Ibrahim Lanre Olosunde Afolayan Nagode Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao Ali Ahmad Garment Factory Government House Ajayi Okasanmi Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Prince Sunday Fagbemi Afeyin-Olukuta Olatunji Ayeni Democracy Day Jamiu Oyawoye Kayode Ibrahim Saheed Akinwumi Tanke Road Eleja Taiwo Banu GANZY Yahaya Dumoye Baaziki Sulaiman Olatunde Olukoya John Olajide Adedipe Egbejila Pius Abioje Rebecca Bake Olatinwo Obuh Sai Kayi Abdulfatai Baakini Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez Oro Grammar School Old Students Association Sulu Babaita Isiaka Kaiama Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi

