Haleem Olatunji
Professor Sophie Oluwole of the University of Lagos had said should any individual lose his/her language, every indigenous knowledge acquired by such individual is lost.
The Professor of African Philosophy said this at the Cultural Day which was in celebration of the Students’ Union Week of the University of Ibadan on 8th April 2016.
While speaking on the theme; “Engaging African Indigenous Knowledge for National Development”, Professor Oluwole said one must possess the African knowledge before developing it. She added that the knowledge lies to a large extent on the African language and should any individual lose it (African language), the indigenous knowledge is lost.
In her words, “You must have the knowledge before developing it…If you lose your language, every indigenous knowledge is lost.”
She further expressed her discomfort at the rate by which the indigenous language is being sent to the grave as she called upon members of the Ministry of Education to look into the educational syllabus in a bid to promote the African language. She expressed displeasure at the rate by which African culture in being banned in education instititions and examination bodies as she said development will take place when Africans prioritize their culture.
“If Africans want to develop, they have to know the value of what they have…..If you don’t know what you have, how can you improve on it?” she said.
