The Oyo State Government has called on parents to encourage the use of indigenous languages at home, emphasizing its importance as a vital tool for educational development.
The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, made this appeal on Tuesday in Ibadan during a one-day workshop on “Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) Policy Implementation and Best Practices.”
Adelabu stressed that fostering indigenous languages during a child’s formative years (ages 0-8) enhances their learning and comprehension abilities. He noted that the state government is prioritizing Early Childhood Care Development Education to ensure proper policy implementation.
“From conception up to the age of eight, language plays a crucial role in a child’s development, as outlined in the federal ECCDE policy,” Adelabu stated. “At crèche and pre-primary levels, children should be taught using their mother tongue or the immediate language of their environment.”
He further highlighted that early education focuses on two key skills—literacy and numeracy—which shape a child’s future career path.
- Literacy skills support careers in law, arts, humanities, and management.
- Numeracy skills develop children for fields such as medicine, engineering, physical sciences, and aeronautics.
Adelabu emphasized the need to train field officers who interact with young learners in both public and private schools, ensuring they understand the importance of language in early education.
On private schools’ reluctance to embrace indigenous languages, he pointed to societal misconceptions as a major challenge.
“Many elite parents refuse to speak Yoruba or their native language to their children, both at home and in school. Some even withdraw their children from schools that encourage indigenous languages,” he lamented. “This perception must change, and we will soon begin advocacy training to address it.”
The workshop was attended by key education stakeholders, including Commissioner of Education Prof. Salihu Adelabu, Prof. Hanah Ajayi of Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr. Adeosun, Local and Zonal Inspectors of Education, school representatives, and public advocacy groups from all 33 local government areas in the state.
