A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called for the preservation of Yoruba language, saying the language is gradually going into extinction.
Oyintiloye made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Osogbo.
He urged traditional rulers across Yoruba-speaking states to lead efforts that would guarantee the preservation of the language.
Oyintiloye expressed the need to save the language from going into extinction.
He said traditional rulers, being custodians of language and culture of Yoruba people, must speak and promote the language for the advancement of the race.
Oyintiloye said it was worrisome that people had abandoned their mother tongue for foreign language.
According to him, leaders of Asian, Arabian, French, and European countries and many other countries, prefer to speak more of their languages in public functions and have it interpreted in English language.
Oyintiloye said: “We are very rich in cultural values but we allow the values to be going into extinction by not paying attention to them.
“Even in our educational system, we have turned our language to a foreign language and term it vernacular.
“The foreign culture and tradition have overshadowed our thinking to the extent that the children of nowadays cannot differentiate between their own culture and foreign culture.
“This trend is extremely abnormal and if allowed to continue, would undermine development among Yoruba tribes.
“Therefore, our traditional institutions, government at all levels and well-meaning Yoruba people must rise and lead the crusade to revive the use of Yoruba language.”
Oyintiloye commended the Osun Government for passing a law, making teaching of Yoruba language in both private and public schools in the state compulsory.
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