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.
Mahee Abdulkadir Fatimah Abdulkadir Haleeman Salman Paul Olawoore Shuaib Jawondo Agboola Babatunde Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam Kudirat Arinola Lawal Ilorin Muslim Community Patigi Regatta KWATMA Oye Tinuoye Eleja Taiwo Banu Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Titus Ashaolu Village Alive Development Association Kumbi Titiloye Ayobami Seriki Bilikis Oladimeji Onilorin KWSIEC Guber Aspirant AbdulQowiy Olododo Basic Education Certificate Examination Ilorin Emirate Folorunsho Erubu Ibrahim Oloriegbe Basit Olatunji Jawondo Sunday Popo-Ola ENetSuD Abdulkarim Adisa Alabi Lawal Okeose Christian Cementary Yakub Lai Gobir Shaykh Luqman Jimoh Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah Kale Bayero HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity Yusuf Aiyedun Teachers Specific Allowance Abubakar Kawu Baraje Sheikh Ridhwanullah Jalala Minister Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu Kayode Alabi Adijat Adebiyi Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Yusuf Ali TESCOM 2025 Iliasu Farouk Salim Yahya Mohammed Abdullahi AbdulMajeed IsDB Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship Olatinwo Femi Gbajabiamila Elekoyangan Ashiru AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem Lanre Aremu CCB Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa SAPZ Project Ishola Abdullahi Elerinjare-Ibobo Wahab Olasupo Egbewole Hussein Olokooba Sherif Shagaya Yahaya Abdulkareem Bukola Ajikobi Gobirawa Bola Shagaya Mamman Saba Jibril Saka Asiat Ayinke

