The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has urged the Federal Government to make indigenous languages a key part of Nigeria’s education system, warning that they are gradually disappearing from schools and higher institutions.
Speaking while hosting the Association of Yoruba Language Scholars (Egbe Omoran Ede Yoruba) at his palace, the monarch said students learn better in languages they understand. He called on the Federal Ministry of Education to review its policies, promote the teaching of indigenous languages, and preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, describing Yoruba as one of the nation’s richest languages.
Oba Akanbi also raised concerns over the shortage of qualified Yoruba language teachers, urging authorities to recruit and train more instructors. To support the preservation and growth of the language, he donated ₦2 million towards Yoruba language research, particularly the development of Yoruba names for objects and other items.