Taiwo, a 30-year-old man from Lagos, expressed regret over his inability to speak Yoruba, his native language. Raised in an academic-focused family that prioritized English as a mark of educational achievement, he was not encouraged to learn Yoruba. Now, as an adult, he reflects on the loss, particularly the depth and cultural richness that Yoruba offers compared to English.
Taiwo’s experience is not isolated; many urban Nigerians grow up with limited exposure to their native languages, as English has become associated with educational advancement. According to the Endangered Language Project, 172 Nigerian languages are at risk of extinction, while UNESCO has warned that Igbo could disappear within 50 years if the trend continues. The organisation highlighted that language embodies unique cultural knowledge, and its loss deprives communities of vital historical and spiritual connections.
Yoruba language instructor Ogbeni Odunsanmi has observed that parents often refrain from teaching native languages at home, fearing it may hinder English proficiency and future opportunities for their children. Similarly, Professor Aliyu Bunza of African Culture attributes this preference to colonial influences, which promoted English as a superior language. Bunza emphasized that native languages serve as cultural identity markers, noting that in villages, native languages are more prevalent, while urban areas see an increasing focus on English.
The impact of English as Nigeria’s official language further complicates the issue, as parents and society often equate English fluency with education and social status, explained Dr. Seyi Kehinde from the University of Lagos. He observed that some parents prefer their children to speak English exclusively to be perceived as more educated or elitist. Experts agree, however, that while the influence of English persists, the solution should be a collective societal effort involving parents, schools, and the government.
Bunza and Kehinde called for updates in Nigeria’s academic curriculum to mandate native language instruction, which could foster cultural pride and prevent language extinction. The entertainment industry, according to Kehinde, is already promoting native languages through media and storytelling, providing an inadvertent avenue for cultural preservation.
Ultimately, experts underscore that preserving Nigeria’s indigenous languages requires concerted efforts across families, institutions, and policies to reframe native language fluency as an integral part of Nigerian identity.
