Yoruba Academy Champions Efforts to Preserve Yoruba Language, Culture, and Tradition

The Yoruba Academy, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called on stakeholders to join hands in safeguarding the Yoruba language, customs, and traditions.

Folaranmi Wakeel, the Programme Director of Yoruba Academy, emphasized the societal importance of maintaining the Yoruba language during this year’s ‘International Mother’s Language Day’ event held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The event, organized by Yoruba Academy in collaboration with the Kaaro Oojire Youth Empowerment Initiative, aimed to address the challenges faced by Yoruba children who, according to Wakeel, often feel inferior for not being fluent in English.

Wakeel urged stakeholders to collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and empower media outlets to propagate the Yoruba language. He emphasized that the transformation of society lies in upholding and preserving the Yoruba language, custom, and tradition.

“It is in our language that we will see our culture; it is in our culture we can achieve social renaissance and transformation of our society. There will be abundance at the end of the day if we can uphold the tenets of our language and culture,” stated Wakeel.

The Yoruba Academy sees itself as the think-tank for the sociocultural and economic development of Yorubaland, having given birth to significant developmental plans such as the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission).

Dignitaries present at the event included Adebayo Akinsowon, Chairman of the event; Chief Dele Akinleye, Coordinator of Afenifere Renewal Group in Oyo State; and Chief Tunde Odunlade, among others. The gathering highlighted the collective commitment to preserving the Yoruba language and culture as integral components of Nigeria’s rich diversity and heritage.