The National Association of Yoruba Language and Culture (NAYLC) has condemned the cancellation of the National Language Policy (2022).

In a statement signed by the patron of the association, Dr. James Adesokan Ojebode, the group called for an “immediate reversal in defence of Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.”

Ojebode said it received, with deep shock and disappointment, the recent decision of the National Council on Education (NCE), during its recent meeting in Akure, Ondo State, to cancel the National Language Policy (NLP 2022) and to impose English as the sole medium of instruction at all levels of education in Nigeria.

“As Life Patron of the NAYLC, I strongly condemn this unfortunate and ill-informed decision, which represents a grave misplacement of priority at a time when nations around the world are strengthening—rather than abandoning—their indigenous languages,” Ojebode said.

“This is not merely an academic strategy; it is a cultural imperative. Language is the soul of a people. It carries identity, values, memory, and worldviews across generations. To discard it is to uproot the very essence of who we are.”

He explained that for decades, researchers, cultural custodians, linguists, and policymakers—including UNESCO and leading global education bodies- affirmed that children learn best when taught in their mother tongue. Evidence consistently shows improved comprehension, stronger cognitive development, and greater cultural confidence. (The Nation)

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