EKSU Professor Sounds Alarm on Decline of Nigeria’s Indigenous Languages

A leading Professor of Linguistics at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Professor Michael Ajibola Abidoun, has raised concerns over the rapid decline of Nigeria’s indigenous languages, warning that many are at risk of extinction without deliberate preservation efforts.

Professor Abidoun delivered the 99th Inaugural Lecture of EKSU, titled “Language Equality and Inequality: Talking Structure and Status,” on Wednesday at the university campus. He emphasized that the loss of a language equates to the loss of a people’s identity, culture, and humanity, noting that indigenous languages embody African values such as communal living, shared responsibility, and peaceful coexistence.

“No society can survive without language, as it remains the strongest tool for communication, understanding, and conflict resolution,” Professor Abidoun asserted. He cautioned against labeling languages as “pure,” “simpler,” or “better,” describing such comparisons as misguided and linguistically uninformed, and stressed that all languages are grammatically complex and systematically structured, even if they occupy different social or global statuses.

The professor also highlighted the dominance of English in Nigeria, describing it as the language of upward mobility. He noted that failure in English can restrict access to higher education and employment opportunities, even for students proficient in indigenous languages.

Professor Abidoun urged the government to actively promote indigenous languages, particularly at the primary and junior secondary school levels, and called on universities to allow students studying Nigerian languages to submit projects, theses, and dissertations in their native tongues.

EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the lecture as intellectually rich and impactful, affirming that while languages may differ in social or political status, all are equal in structure, complexity, and communicative ability. He also lamented the declining use of indigenous languages among young Nigerians, especially Yoruba youths, noting that many can no longer speak their mother tongue, even as the Yoruba language is actively taught in countries like Brazil.

To address the decline, Professor Ayodele announced that EKSU will introduce online courses in indigenous languages, starting with Yoruba, aimed at reconnecting Nigerians in the diaspora with their linguistic heritage. The initiative has already received approval from the university’s Council and Senate.

The lecture drew an audience of traditional rulers, chiefs, academic dignitaries, government officials, scholars from various universities, friends, and family members, underscoring the national importance of preserving Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.