The following article from the Lagos paper, Daily Champion, was seen on AllAfrica.com at http://allafrica.com/stories/200710240090.html .
Nigeria: Fafunwa Makes Case for Local Languages Daily Champion (Lagos) http://www.champion-newspapers.com/ 24 October 2007 Posted to the web 24 October 2007 Patience Akpru Lagos FORMER Education Minister, Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa has again enjoined the Federal Government to make vernacular languages compulsory at the primary school level. The policy, he said, would help these youngsters understand their origin as well as enable them speak the English language and other languages well. Prof. Fafunwa spoke yesterday at an award ceremony held in his honour by Hallmarks of Labour Foundation in recognition of his contributions to the development of education in Nigeria, and especially for his promotion of the African language and culture. The Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola who spoke through Dr. Afolabi Kofo Abayomi, congratulated Prof. Fafunwa for the honour and promised that his administration would continue to associate with him. The state, he added, believed in hard work in line with the fact that no nation can make any meaningful growth without quality human resources. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Fafunwa reiterated the need to educate children in their mother tongue and culture, saying it is the only way to rescue Nigerians from colonial mentality. Prof. Fafunwa who said he has written over 100 primary school books in vernacular languages, also promised to begin a Yoruba Academy to help propagate the languag and culture. Copyright © 2007 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
