Date: 2016-04-12

The Federal Government and relevant stakeholders in the education sector have been advised to adopt and promote the teachings and learning of Arabic language in schools across the country.

The chairman of the Kwara State Arabic Education Board, Dr. AbulKadir Oba-Solagberu stated this in Ilorin while speaking with journalists in preparation for the 2016 Mock Examination for Arabic Students in the state.

He noted that teaching and learning of Arabic language has nothing to do with religion stressing that the skill becomes necessary owing to the demand for diversification of knowledge due to globalization and technological advancement stressing that, "there is need to integrate teaching/learning of Arabic knowledge in the Nigerian Education curriculum as this will promote self-reliance, economic independence and enhance self-esteem."

Oba-Solagberu however disclosed that Arabic Education is not meant for Muslims alone noting that some of experts in the language are non-Muslims due to the fact that it is an international language reckoned with by all nations .

The chairman further stressed that majority of Nigerians now go to foreign countries such as India, Malaysia , Qatar, Kuwait , China and Saudi-Arabia among other countries in the middle east and Asia for Post-Graduate Studies . He said: "Unfortunately such students only rely on English language as the only medium of communication and interaction not minding other nationals coming from background, race and continent."

This, he said will not only promote peaceful co-existence in the face of the numerous global security challenges but will also equip Nigerians and expose them to many opportunities that may eventually come their respective ways while there.

Speaking on the forthcoming 2016 Mock Examination, Oba-Solagberu stressed that , "The Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led government has put mechanism in place to sponsor no fewer than 800 candidates for the 2016 National Board of Arabic examination which is the equivalent of the National Examination Council, (NECO) in the western education.

He further maintained that, "In 2015, the Kwara State Government sponsored about 400 candidates who passed the mock and majority of them are now in tertiary institutions across the world. We are not only committed in raising the bar in the area of promoting Arabic Education in the state but we are are ready to sustain the tempo in ensuring that the efforts of the government is taken to the grassroot.

While commending the state government's efforts on the "Every Child's Counts" education reform policy, the Arabic Board Chairman urged parents, guardians as well as proprietors of Arabic schools in the state to utilize the opportunity availed them to register the children , wards and pupils for the mock examination.

"It must be known that the existence of the Arabic Board in state is not for Muslims alone. Non-Muslims can also develop their talent by learning Arabic language just like Muslims also did to English language", he said.