Lagos Assembly moves to prevent extinction of Yoruba Language

From left, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade; Speaker, State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudasiru Obasa; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Mr Adeniji Kazeem

A move is being made by the Lagos State House of Assembly to prevent the extinction of Yoruba Language in the state.

This was the centre-point of a motion presented during plenary on Thursday by a member of the House, Honourable Olanrewaju Ogunyemi.

It was agreed that the state governor should direct the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture to set aside a day annually in Lagos State for the purpose of celebrating Yoruba arts and culture with a view to propagating the use of the language as a means of communication and transaction.

The sponsor of the motion, added that the governor should direct the Commissioner/Attorney General for Justice to cause the State Law Reform Commission to commence the process of translating all existing laws of the state into Yoruba Language as stated in Section 9 (4) of the Laws of Lagos State 2015.

According to him, the commission will simplify and modify laws by making the laws clearer and more accessible by changing the language to enable the general public understand their rights and obligations.

“We should adopt Yoruba Language as a medium of conducting proceedings once in a month at the Executive Council meeting of the state,” he said.

It was also suggested in the motion that the Lagos State House of Assembly should sponsor a Yearly Award for the Best Yoruba Author and the Best Yoruba Essayist among Lagos State tertiary institutions.

Ogunyemi also stated that prizes should be presented to best students in Yoruba Language in the yearly Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (JSSCE) and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).