Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has harped on the need to promote Nigeria’s local languages and culture to drive national development.
Soyinka made the call on Monday during an interactive session with newsmen following his visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts, University of Iloirn, as part of activities leading to the institution’s maiden Cultural Week.
The literary icon noted that a language is a repository of a people and community, adding that young people should be encouraged to understand the language of their forefathers.
According to noble laureate, language is a beautiful tool for expression.
“In the last head count, it was discovered that there were 300 languages in Nigeria. We need to learn foreign languages that are spoken and recognised around the world to develop ourselves and the country, but this should not be to the detriment of our local language.
“We need to learn to read, write and invent in our local languages, even before we think or compose in other languages, to be able to conduct research and develop our country,”;; Soyinka stated.
He maintained that there was a need to transform the old traditional ways of living to modern in order to get cultural value.
He further stated that there was a need for local languages to be made compulsory in schools and for Nigerians to know their history and culture for them to be proud of their heritage.
