Prof. Nahzeem Olufemi-Mimiko, former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin College, has emphasised the significance of educating in native languages for Nigeria’s development and improvement.
Olufemi-Mimiko, talking on the eighth Convocation Lecture of Federal College Lokoja on Thursday, criticised the present instructional system, which prioritised international languages over native ones.
He opined that for Nigeria to attain its desired improvement and meet up with different developed nations like China, India, and Japan, which train of their native languages, the federal government wanted to overtake its instructional system.
Based on him, that is by adopting a extra related and efficient narrative.
Olufemi-Mimiko , who mentioned that analysis supported educating in native languages on the main college stage, advocated making this a nationwide coverage, coaching lecturers, and instructors to make use of native languages.
“Native language educating enhances studying outcomes and locations Nigerian kids on a firmer pedestal for post-basic training.
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“It preserves indigenous languages and saves them from cultural aridity and contributes to financial development and improvement.”
Olufemi-Mimiko expressed concern about 20 million out-of-school kids and 70 per cent of Nigerians being functionally illiterate, warning that this was a catastrophe ready to occur.
He urged the Federal Authorities to design intervention programmes to coach these kids and make them helpful to themselves and the nation.
In his message to graduands, Olufemi-Mimiko suggested them to train management with integrity, character, and problem-solving attitudes, whereas embracing range and compassion for the weak and deprived.
