Educators urge Nigeria to implement mother-tongue education policy

Nigerian educators are calling on the Federal Government to move beyond policy statements and urgently implement a compulsory mother-tongue education policy across all schools. They argue this is vital for preserving the nation's cultural identity and fostering national development.

Professor Oladele Abiodun Balogun, a newly inducted Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), stressed that language is more than mere communication; it serves as a critical tool for national integration, educational advancement, and cultural preservation. Speaking at the NAL's 28th Convocation, Balogun criticized Nigeria's recurring issue of a significant gap between policy creation and its actual execution.

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The problem with Nigeria is not that we don’t have laws, we have laws, we have policy. I even believe that we have structures, but our problem is about the implementation. Let the policy be implemented.

"The problem with Nigeria is not that we don’t have laws, we have laws, we have policy. I even believe that we have structures, but our problem is about the implementation. Let the policy be implemented," Balogun stated. He believes Nigeria needs a more deliberate strategy for mother-tongue education to build an inclusive, innovative, and united society.

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If Nigeria is to become a truly inclusive, innovative, and united nation, it must move beyond rhetoric and implement a mother-tongue-based language policy with seriousness and consistency.

Balogun warned that neglecting indigenous languages could lead to the erosion of Nigeria's cultural heritage and values. "If we don’t return to our mother tongue, our culture, our value will be lost. Everybody is complicit, the parents, the government, even scholars. There are some of us who cannot even speak very much our mother tongues," he lamented.

Educational experts consistently advocate for mother-tongue instruction, especially in early education, as children grasp concepts more effectively in their first language. Despite provisions in the National Policy on Education supporting this approach, Nigeria continues to struggle with its implementation.

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If we don’t return to our mother tongue, our culture, our value will be lost. Everybody is complicit, the parents, the government, even scholars. There are some of us who cannot even speak very much our mother tongues.