The Ologba of Ogba Kingdom, Abdullateef Oladimeji Egbeyemi, has called on Nigerian parents to intentionally preserve indigenous languages by communicating with their children in their mother tongues from an early age.
Speaking with The Nigeria Education News during the 2026 Children’s Day celebration themed “Nigerian Children Cultural Heritage” in Lagos, the monarch expressed concern over the declining ability of many children to speak their native languages fluently.
According to him, the responsibility of preserving culture and language begins at home, stressing that parents must take deliberate steps to teach their children indigenous languages through everyday communication.
“There is nothing difficult about preserving our culture,” he said. “Parents should start speaking to their children in their mother tongue because home is the first human laboratory of science.”
The traditional ruler noted that many foreign countries, including China, Japan, India, and Korea, continue to teach their children in their indigenous languages, allowing them to better understand their culture and identity.
He added that language remains a powerful tool for communication and cultural preservation, referencing former South African President Nelson Mandela’s famous position on speaking to people in the language they understand best.
“If you want someone to truly understand you, speak to the person in the mother tongue. You will be speaking to the person both spiritually and physically,” he said.
The monarch also emphasized the richness of African culture, noting that Nigerian traditions and values remain deeply significant despite increasing western influence on younger generations.
Speaking further on the relationship between culture and education, the Ologba of Ogba Kingdom reiterated that values and learning begin from the home environment.
“There is absolutely nothing in the white man’s language that we do not also have in our own culture,” he stated.
The interview formed part of The Nigeria Education News’ special coverage of the 2026 Children’s Day celebration in Lagos.
