LEARN IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE AS ALL OTHER LANGUAGE GROUPS DO TO BE ABLE TO CREATE//INVENT!!-TEACH ALL SUBJECTS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES!

CBAAC advocates teaching in mother tongue in Nigerian schools

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MOJEED ALABI 16/06/2011 02:19:00

Prof. Tunde Babawale, CBAAC’s Director-General,

The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), is clamouring for the use of the nation’s numerous languages of immediate environment, otherwise called mother tongue, as languages of teaching in at least basic schools in the country.

The federal government agency is set up to preserve, promote and propagate African culture. According to CBAAC’s Director-General, Prof. Tunde Babawale, the problem of poor use and understanding of Nigeria’s indigenous languages by the country’s students has become evident in the overall performance of these students at most public examinations because in his words “proficiency in foreign languages is often helped by the competence displayed in the use of indigenous languages.” Prof. Babawale made this known at the recent inter-secondary school’s debate competition to mark this year’s International Children’s Day ceremony.



The competition, sponsored by prominent production and sales and services companies held at the Cinema Hall II of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, and featured several schools across the state. It was witnessed by many dignitaries including a representative of the immediate past Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed. The students debated on the theme; Should Mother tongue be used for teaching in Nigerian schools? According to the organiser of the event, the was to allow the pupils and their teachers to understand the thrust of the message and serve as the required weapons to spread the gospel. The competition was won by Top Grade Secondary school while the second and third p