Gani Adams lauds LASU’s initiative at sustaining Yoruba language

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has commended the management of the Lagos State University (LASU) for sustaining Yoruba language in the school’s curriculum, urging other tertiary institutions in Yorubaland to take a cue from such new initiative.

Iba Adams gave this commendation on Wednesday at the 2024 Edition of Ajagunmale Festival held in Lekki, Lagos, noting that Yoruba language, with its rich contents, articulation and delivery remained a potent tool for liberation.

This was just as the Yoruba generalissimo reiterated the need to make Yoruba language compulsory for admission into states’ universities, saying that the LASU management had through the step taken brought into focus a new initiative that would sustain Yoruba language in Lagos State.

“I applaud the management of the Lagos State University (LASU) for taking a bold towards sustaining Yoruba’s rich language.

“The management of the school recently announced the inclusion of Yoruba Language as a compulsory course for all its students.

“The new course added to the school’s curriculum from the 2023/2024 academic session is titled GNS 104 (Yoruba Language Studies).

“With the new development, it is interesting to note that Yoruba language is now compulsory for all LASU students, irrespective of the discipline.

“LASU students must study and pass Yoruba language as a subject for them to be eligible for graduation.

“The management brings into focus a new initiative that would sustain Yoruba language in the state.

“On this note, I urge all the states’ universities in the South West to take a cue from the LASU’s initiative at sustaining Yoruba language in their school’s curriculum,” Adams stated.

Adams, however, called on Yoruba monarchs to preserve Yoruba history, documents and artifacts by building a mini-museum in their palaces, which according to him, has been the pride of Yoruba race.

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The Yoruba generalissimo said such mini-museums must display history of past traditional rulers, their pictures, and everything that had to do with their memories.

“Each of the palaces in Yoruba land must have a mini-museum showing the history of past traditional rulers, their pictures, and everything that has to do with their memories,” he said.

The Onileeki of Lekki Kingdom, Oba Olumuyiwa Ogunbekun, expressed delight at the role played by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) under the leadership of Iba Adams.

The monarch, who is also the royal father and host, admitted that Lekki had been benefitting immensely from both the physical and the spiritual advantage of celebrating Ajagunmale Festival, promising the support of his palace in ensuring a successful festival next year.

“We are the greatest beneficiaries of this festival. I thank Iba Gani Adams for bringing this festival to my domain and it is my hope that the town will continue to support the OPC in promoting the cultural identity of the Yoruba race.

“By this time next year, God-willing, the palace will support the OPC in ensuring a successful festival,” the monarch pledged.

Other monarchs that were present at the event included the Oba of Lepia Kingdom, Oba Akibu Ismaila; the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom, Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin; the Onimedu of Orimedu Kingdom, Oba Toheeb Oyedele; the Alagbegishe of Agbegishe Kingdom, Oba Joseph Ikudaisi; the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buari-Ola Balogun and the Arole Oguntimehin, Oba Lukman Arowolo Gbadewolu of Araromi.

Also in attendance were the Aareonakakanfo- Chiefs- in-Council, members of the OPC National Executive Council (NEC), National Coordinating Council (NCC) and all members of the OPC in Lekki LCDA, under the leadership of Chief Isiaka Balogun, also known as Akinrogun.

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