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.
Atiku Abubakar Kwara Central Odogun Olushola Gabriel Umaru Saro Valsolar Consortium Amasa Isiaka Rafiu Mope AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem Muhammad Toyin Sanusi Prince Bola Ajibola Jumoke Gafar Ganiyu Abolarin Makama Of Kaiama Kwara Hotel Kolawole Bashirat Gobirawa Aminat Ahmed Olayinka Olaogun Nurudeen Muhammed Al-Hikmah Radio AIT Ilorin Abdulrazaq Magaji Sobi Specialist Hospital KWATMA Share/Tsaragi Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria Rashidi Yekini Clara Nwachukwu Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf Abdullahi Biffo Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road Amosa Donatus Ejidike Michael Ologundea CACOVID UITH Charles Ibitoye Shagari Abdulrazaq Solihudeen Abdulwahab Ololele Femi Gbajabiamila Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede Ayo Adeyemi Samari Toyin Olayinka Tejidini Sebastine Obasi Ethical College Eleyele Deji Ajani Hijab Iyabo Adewuyi Ayo Salami Overland Abdul Jimoh Mohammed United Nigeria Airline Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu IYA ALFA NLA Bluenile Associates Sulyman Age AbdulKareem Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao Onikijipa Mahe Abdulkadir Ahman Pategi Popo-Igbonna Neuropsychiatric Hospital Taibat Ayinke Ahmed Mahmud Ayinla Giwa Adijat Adebiyi Boko Haram Tafida Of Kaiama Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman Ile Arugbo Adesina Simon Sodiya MINILS Taofeek Ibraheem Idris Amosa Saidu

