World Speech Day: Scholar calls on Nigerians to promote love, peace

Prof. Michael Omolewa, former Permanent Delegate and Ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO, has called on Nigerians to promote love, fairness, social justice and peace through their speeches.

Omolewa made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday against the backdrop of the 2019 World Speech Day.

He said speeches were capable of changing destinies and situations of individuals and Nations, adding that it was the reason oratorical skills are consciously promoted through the literary and debating programmes in schools and colleges.

The expert said many world leaders including the French Charles de Gaulle and the British Winston Churchill used speeches to instil courage and determination in fighters during the Second World War until victory was achieved.

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“As the world plunges into the depths of despair, we should convey messages of hope to encourage people to work together in partnership and collaboration for a better future. We can have a world purged of hate, crimes, greed, selfishness and violence.

“We must speak against these negative things and promote love, fairness, social justice and peace through our speeches.”

Omolewa said that the Bible described the tongue as a potent weapon and advises wisdom and caution in speeches and utterances.

The World Speech Day is marked annually on March 15 to celebrate speeches and speechmaking through live speaking events across the world.

NAN reports that the first World Speech Day took place on March 15, 2016, and the theme for 2019 is “World Citizen: ship”.