Broadcasters seek law mandating Yoruba-language programmes in Lagos

…Urge Tinubu to grant national interview in Yoruba

The Yoruba Broadcasters Association (YBA) has called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to enact legislation making Yoruba-language programming compulsory on all broadcast stations operating in the state as part of efforts to preserve the indigenous language and cultural heritage.

The association also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant at least one major national interview in Yoruba, saying such a move would reaffirm the importance of indigenous languages and strengthen the connection between national leaders and Yoruba-speaking Nigerians.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, the Chairman of the YBA Implementation Committee and the association’s first National President, Prince Adefunso Ademigbuji, expressed concern over what he described as the steady decline in Yoruba-language programming on many radio and television stations across the state.

Ademigbuji lamented that while older stations such as Raypower FM and African Independent Television (AIT) have sustained Yoruba-language content, several newer broadcast stations no longer dedicate regular airtime to programmes in the indigenous language.

According to him, the trend poses a serious threat to the survival of the Yoruba language, particularly among younger generations.

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“The Yoruba language is not merely a means of communication. It is the vessel through which our people transmit history, wisdom, values, philosophy, literature and identity from one generation to another. If the language of the people disappears from the media space, we risk losing an important part of our heritage,” he said.

He stressed that although broadcasting is a commercial enterprise, it also carries a social responsibility to promote cultural values and national development.

The YBA president argued that Yoruba-language programmes should extend beyond entertainment to cover critical issues such as the economy, entrepreneurship, education, agriculture, health, security, governance, technology and youth development.

Ademigbuji urged the Lagos State Government to formulate a comprehensive policy framework for promoting the Yoruba language in broadcasting, education, public communication and cultural institutions.

He also called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to enact legislation requiring all broadcast stations in the state to devote meaningful airtime to Yoruba-language programming while establishing minimum standards for programme quality and duration.

The association maintained that promoting Yoruba on radio and television would not undermine English or other Nigerian languages but would instead foster cultural inclusion and strengthen national unity.

On the national front, the YBA appealed to President Tinubu to grant at least one major national media interview in Yoruba, describing the proposal as a symbolic gesture that would encourage the preservation of indigenous languages across the country.

Ademigbuji argued that indigenous-language broadcasting would improve public understanding of government policies, economic reforms, security information and health campaigns, particularly among people in the informal sector who communicate primarily in local languages.

As part of its advocacy, the association announced plans to submit a formal petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly seeking legislation to make Yoruba-language programming mandatory on all broadcast stations operating in the state.

The petition also seeks the establishment of a monitoring mechanism involving relevant stakeholders, including the YBA, to ensure compliance with the proposed law.

Ademigbuji said the proposed legislation would not only preserve the Yoruba language and culture but also create employment opportunities for broadcasters, producers, writers, actors, researchers and other professionals in the creative industry.

He reaffirmed the association’s readiness to collaborate with the Lagos State Government, broadcast regulators, media organisations and cultural groups to develop modern, attractive and commercially viable Yoruba-language content.

“The Yoruba language must live. Yoruba culture must thrive. Our identity must not disappear in our own land,” he said.

He added that the association would continue to engage policymakers and stakeholders until concrete measures are taken to protect the language through broadcasting.