What Soyinka said about Nigeria’s future will leave you speechless

By Mujidat Oyewole

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has called for a renewed national commitment to the promotion of Nigeria’s indigenous languages and cultural values, describing them as essential tools for sustainable development.

Speaking on Monday after a visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts at the University of Ilorin, Soyinka underscored the importance of language as a cultural repository and an instrument of identity. His visit was part of activities marking the university’s maiden Cultural Week.

“A language is a repository of a people and community,” Soyinka told journalists. “Young people should be encouraged to understand the language of their forefathers.”

He stressed the expressive power of indigenous languages, stating, “Language is a beautiful tool for expression.”

Citing the country’s linguistic richness, Soyinka noted: “In the last head count it was discovered that there were 300 languages in Nigeria.”

While acknowledging the necessity of mastering globally recognised foreign languages, he warned against neglecting Nigeria’s native tongues.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

The playwright and cultural icon also highlighted the need to adapt traditional practices to modern life to preserve their cultural value.

“This is by introducing the local foods, songs and ways of solving issues in the past to modern day living,” he said.

“We can start by asking our mothers how they did it perfectly in the past and use the method on our children. This is for them to be knowledgeable about their origin and make judicious use of the method to solve many issues in their present.”

Soyinka advocated for the compulsory teaching of local languages in schools and urged Nigerians to become better informed about their heritage.

“There is need for local languages to be made compulsory in schools and Nigerians to know their history and culture for them to be proud of their heritage,” he said.

“We need to cherish our culture and traditions as an African country in order to maintain our dignity and value.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), welcomed Soyinka’s visit as a moment of historic significance for the university.

He expressed the pride of the institution’s academic community in hosting a global cultural figure of Soyinka’s stature, describing the visit as a validation of the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts.

Egbewole explained that the centre was established in alignment with Soyinka’s lifelong dedication to the arts and humanities.

“The initiative was born out of genuine intentions to contribute meaningfully to cultural scholarship and global discourse,” he said.

He added that the centre has now grown into a full academic unit with students enrolled at diploma, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

The Vice Chancellor expressed optimism that, with Soyinka’s involvement and endorsement, the Centre would rise to become one of the foremost institutions for cultural studies globally. (NAN)