Ladigbolu Delivers Keynote Address as Southwest Leaders Mark Mother Language Day in Ibadan

Segun Atanda/

Reverred cleric and Chairman of Yoruba Unity Forum, Archbishop Emeritus Ayo Ladigbolu, will deliver the keynote address at an event to mark the International Mother Language Day, in Ibadan, Oyo State, tomorrow.

The event billed to hold at the Yoruba World Centre, University of Ibadan, will.also have in attendance the Southwest governors, traditional rulers, Yoruba leaders and scholars.

The event is being organised by the International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture (Yoruba World Centre), in collaboration with DAWN Commission, WIKIPEDIA and other stakeholders.

According a statement by the organisers, the two-day event will also mark the take-off of the New National Language Policy in Yoruba Studies, with an international conference focused on the ‘Standardisation of the Yoruba Language Orthography’.

The statement reveals that the organising committee headed by Professor Oluwole Oyetade, Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, has undertaken elaborate consultations with teachers, learners and users of the language, as well as the ministries of education in Southwest, Kwara and Kogi States.

Other members of committee include, the President of Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria, President of the Association of Yoruba Language Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Nigeria, President of Egbe Akómolede ati Asa Yoruba; Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Publishers Association, Yoruba Writers Association and other stakeholders.

The statement notes that the committee “shall work not only on the Standardisation of Yoruba Orthography, but also on the continuous joint marking of the yearly Mother Language Day”.

The statement further quotes Oyetade as saying, “What we are doing is not new. Our fathers and leaders had done it before. But the last concerted efforts on Yoruba orthography was in the early 70s, which brought the 1974 approved orthography for the language. Even, then, there were disagreements on some of the words and their spellings. Now that we are beginning a new language policy in Nigeria, and because Yoruba language has now been accepted globally, we must have a universally accepted orthography. That’s the work we have given ourselves. We are not writing a new orthography, just to work more on the existing one.”

Also speaking on the Mother Language Day celebration, Oyetade observed, “Mother Language Day is a United Nations programme to celebrate our language and culture. Yoruba have a rich culture, and our language is one of the best in the world. It is important that we continue to showcase the importance of these to our children, and even the world at large. There has not been a joint celebration among the Yoruba speaking states, everyone celebrates separately. We want to make this year’s a unique one, as it is to be marked as the beginning of joint celebration in Yoruba Speaking States.”

The statement further discloses that the Yoruba Orthography Committee will be inaugurated by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, while Governor Seyi Makinde will be the Chief Host. Also, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, shall host all dignitaries.

Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, supported by other Obas, will be the Royal Father of the day, the statement adds.

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