Language protection, key to value system sustainability — Osun Traditional Association
… As Oyetola reiterates commitment to promoting culture
Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
The Traditional Religious Worshippers Association of Osun State has described language protection and preservation as the only way to engender societal value system.
This was disclosed during an edition of Governor’s Family Meeting organized by the Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye at Idi-Ape Junction, Bode-Osi, Olaoluwa Local Government area of the state.
Chief Fadare Ogunjimi, the Araba-Awo of Ogbaagba in Olaoluwa Local Government who spoke on behalf of the association, said the indigenous language of any given society has an inextricable link with its identity and moral values system, noting that such must always be protected for societal development.
Chief Ogunjimi also underscored the inestimable values embedded in Yoruba language as one ladden with Omoluabi virtues, ethos, and norms, urging all well-meaning stakeholders in Yoruba land to strive towards reviving it to assume its original enviable status.
“We will also entreat the government to formulate policies and organize programs that would assist in preventing the language from going into an extinction,” he said.
The Araba-Awo further attributed the series of social vices prevalent in the society of today and which are not in tandem with Yoruba culture, to the diminishing status of Yoruba language, reiterating that the old decorous value system of Yoruba land could only be redeemed if everyone gives premium to the language and not make it inferior to other foreign ones.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye who represented the Governor at the event, also enumerated the essence of language promotion in the process of ethical rebirth and value reorientation, while stating the commitment of Oyetola’s administration to engendering cultural values for social stability and development.
The Special Adviser emphasised that Yoruba language like every other indigenous language across world deserves its rightful place and recognition regardless of the adoption of foreign languages, noting that the promotion of Yoruba language will serve as a catalyst for the advancement of culture, traditions and ethos the language encompasses as this would go a long way in preserving societal moral values.
Oyintiloye noted that the efforts of Oyetola in reviving the tourism, culture and traditions of the state being the cradle of Yoruba nation, could be seen in his bold step taken towards promoting the state Adire by declaring every Thursday as its promotion day.
He, however, said that the administration of Oyetola would not relent in developing and protecting every aspect of the state culture which language is inclusive for the betterment of the society.
