Soyinka made the call on Monday while answering questions from newsmen after his visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts, University of Ilorin, as part of activities leading to the institution’s maiden Cultural Week.

He said that a language is repository of a people and community, adding that young people should be encouraged to understand the language of their forefathers.

According to Soyinka, language is a beautiful tool for expression.

“In the last head count it was discovered that there were 300 languages in Nigeria.

“We need to learn foreign languages that is spoken and recognised around the world to develop ourselves and the country, but this should not be to the detriment of our local language.

“We need to learn to read, write and invent in our local languages, even before we think or compose in other languages, to be able to conduct research and develop our country.”

The Nobel laureate said that there was need to transform the old traditional ways of living to modern in order to get cultural value.

“This is by introducing the local foods, songs and ways of solving issues in the past to modern day living.

“We can start by asking our mothers how they did it perfectly in the past and use the method on our children.

“This is for them to be knowledgeable about their origin and make judicious use of the method to solve many issues in their present,” Soyinka said.

READ ALSO: MIL: UNESCO, MAIN train media CEOs, editors, content creators

He also said that there was need for local languages to be made compulsory in schools and Nigerians to know their history and culture for them to be proud of their heritage.

“We need to cherish our culture and traditions as an African country in order to maintain our dignity and value,” he said.

Earlier, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, described Soyinka’s visit as a moment of pride and historical importance to the institution.

Egbewole, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, expressed the collective joy of the academic community in hosting a global cultural figure of Soyinka’s stature.

He noted that the establishment of the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts was inspired by a vision that aligned closely with the noble laureate’s lifelong dedication to arts and humanities.

The Vice-Chancellor revealed that the Centre was conceptualised with figures like Soyinka in mind, saying that the initiative was born out of genuine intentions to contribute meaningfully to cultural scholarship and global discourse.

He explained that the vision for the centre had been nurtured over time and had now materialised with students enrolled in programmes across various levels, including diploma, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that the centre would grow to become one of the foremost institutions of its kind globally, especially with the involvement and endorsement of Prof. Soyinka.

Source: NAN

The post Why Nigeria must promote local languages, culture -Soyinka appeared first on Frontpageng.

Oloyede stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin while speaking at the 15th anniversary of 89.3FM, a radio station owned by University of Ilorin.

The programme had as its theme: “The Future of Radio, AI and the Transformation of Broadcasting”.

Oloyede, who said that specialisation should be restricted to post-graduate level, noted that Nigeria had not reached the stage for the unbundling of the course.

According to him, the country had many graduates looking for jobs, stressing that narrowing down their opportunities to particular disciplines might limit their chances of getting employed.

“We need to be broader, given the level of our under-development. It is important to keep Mass Communication at the undergraduate level,” he said.

Oloyede described radio as a form of mass media and sound communication contributing significantly to development of the society.

“The intention of the radio is to improve the night economy of a community, especially Ilorin. Some people are night workers, while some are insomniacs,” he said.

The JAMB registrar said that the country’s night economy had kept dwindling and needed attention, adding that radio could be used to fill the gap.

READ ALSO: Ibietan delivers Federal University Lokoja Inaugural Lecture today

He said that the major role of the radio station was to disseminate educational programmes and information to students in and around the institution.

Also speaking, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, lauded the radio station for its achievements since its establishment 15 years ago.

Egbewole also commended Oloyede’s visionary stance which resulted in the establishment of the station during his tenure as vice-chancellor of the university.

He pledged that the university would ensure that the radio station continued to develop and excel, even in the face of all odds.

“There is need for navigating, repositioning and going back to the approaches employed.

“The university will continue to identify with issues that challenge and proffer solutions to the community,” he said.

Also in her lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, , Prof. Francisca Oladipo, submitted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could enhance radio communication.

Oladipo, who viewed radio as a powerful medium, said with the with emerging technology, it could reshape the industry.

According to her, radio broadcasting is diverse, dynamic and, through AI, can provide opportunities for personalisation and interaction with presenters.

“There is integration of podcasts. The radio provides accessibility, real time information, local focus, companionship and discovery platform,” she said.

Oladipo further stated that AI could be employed in script writing and fact checking.

She urged the university to use the station to generate contents for revenue yielding and teaching purposes.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said that the radio station had become a force to reckon with.

Akogun said that the station had made waves in all areas of broadcasting, while effectively serving as one of the public relations outfits of the university.

He said that the radio station was established on August 13, 2009 to provide a window to the larger community about what the university was doing as well as set standards for socially-responsible entertainment.

“It is to serve as a laboratory for training and simulation of activities; prepare students for careers in the media industry; education, information, entertainment and community development purposes,” he said.

Source: NAN

The post Unbundling Mass Communication untimely – JAMB registrar appeared first on Frontpageng.

In a statement issued by its Executive Secretary, Miss Raqeebah Oloko, the association said that the 13th in the series of the hybrid event would be held in Kwara State.

Oloko said the topic chosen for the 2023 Honours Day is “Ethical Reorientation: A Panacea for Good Governance and Development”.

The statement added that Rtd. Justice Isa Babatunde Garba, a retired Justice of the Kwara State High Court, would deliver the lecture while Barr. Abeni Mohammed (SAN) would chair the occasion.

Highlights of the honorees are four Presidential Awards: two Vice Chancellors, one Chairman of Board of Directors (NESG), and one individual for exemplary service to the cause of Islam.

Other categories are 12 Excellence Awards: One Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , four Permanent Secretaries, and seven members for attainment of Professor cadre.

The last category is 12 Achievement Awards:

Six Directors across States and Federal service, one Fellow of professional body, one Principal at State Government School, and four individuals for achieving doctorate degrees, Ph.D.

Those to be honoured include  Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulhakeem Lasisi; Vice Chancellor of the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, as well as the current chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr Olaniyi Yusuf amongst others.

Speaking on the uniqueness of UNIFEMGA 2023 Honours Day, the National President , Alhaji Abdulfattah Olanlege, said those to be honoured were carefully selected and had excelled themselves in various fields of human endeavours.

Olanlege said that the two-day event would be streamed live for ease and participation of all members both in Nigeria and those in the Diaspora.

Since 2011 when the maiden edition of the National Honours’ Day started with Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) hosting, over 200 members have so far been honoured and rewarded for their landmark achievements.

UNIFEMGA, whose vision statement is to be the foremost Muslim Alumni Association in the World, is an association of Muslim Graduates from the then University of Ife as well as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The post UNIFEMGA honours Egbewole, Lasisi, Niyi Yusuf, 25 others appeared first on Frontpageng.