Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has called for greater efforts to preserve the Yoruba language and cultural heritage, describing the language as a vital part of the people’s identity, history, values and shared sense of community.
Hamzat made the call following his appearance on Masoyinbo, a Yoruba-language cultural game show designed to promote the indigenous language through quizzes, challenges and entertainment.
In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, October 9, 2026, accompanied by photographs from the programme, the deputy governor said preserving Yoruba should be treated as a collective responsibility, with Nigerians encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and pass it on to younger generations.
“I had a great time on Masoyinbo, exploring the importance of Yoruba in our society and why we must preserve the language, celebrate our culture and pass our rich heritage on to future generations,” Hamzat said.
He added, “Yoruba is more than a language. It is part of our identity, history, values and what connects us as a community.”
The deputy governor also linked cultural preservation to the broader development of Lagos State, arguing that progress should extend beyond physical infrastructure and public services to include investments in people, culture and shared values.
“Building a greater Lagos means investing not only in infrastructure and public services but also in our people, culture and values. We must work together to keep our heritage alive for generations to come,” he said.
Hamzat’s appearance on Masoyinbo has drawn attention to the role entertainment can play in encouraging the use of indigenous languages, particularly at a time when English dominates many formal, educational and professional settings.
The programme uses a competitive format to test participants’ fluency and knowledge of Yoruba through questions and challenges. By combining language learning with entertainment, it seeks to make the language engaging for audiences while encouraging participants to demonstrate their ability to communicate without switching to English.
Hamzat also commended the programme for its contribution to promoting Yoruba heritage and entertaining audiences in Lagos and beyond.
The deputy governor appeared in the 364th episode of the show, hosted by Lekan Fabilola. He participated in the competition for the ultimate prize, which included ₦1 million, a car and a parcel of land.
Although Hamzat answered all 10 questions, penalties arising from code-switching and mixing Yoruba with English reportedly reduced his prize to ₦20,000. The outcome highlighted one of the central challenges addressed by the programme: maintaining fluency in an indigenous language in situations where speakers frequently alternate between languages.
Masoyinbo has featured several prominent Nigerians, including Fuji musician Saheed Osupa, political activist Yele Sowore, actresses Funke Akindele and Femi Adebayo, rapper Falz, comedian Ali Baba, skit maker Cute Abiola and actor Lateef Adedimeji.
The participation of public figures in the programme has helped bring wider attention to the relationship between language, cultural identity and public life. Their appearances also offer opportunities to engage audiences who might not ordinarily participate in formal language-preservation initiatives.
Beyond communication, indigenous languages carry cultural knowledge through proverbs, oral histories, folklore, traditional expressions, songs and storytelling. Their continued use can therefore help sustain forms of knowledge and cultural practices that may become less familiar to younger generations when transmission between generations weakens.
Hamzat’s remarks reinforce the argument that preserving Yoruba and other Nigerian languages requires more than recognising their cultural importance. It also requires creating opportunities for people to use them in everyday conversations, education, entertainment, creative industries and digital spaces.
For a culturally diverse country such as Nigeria, the deputy governor said the preservation of indigenous languages should be viewed as a shared responsibility rather than the concern of particular communities alone.
His appearance on Masoyinbo has consequently placed renewed attention on the role of cultural programming in keeping indigenous languages visible and relevant, particularly among younger audiences and Nigerians living outside their ancestral communities.
As efforts to promote Nigerian languages continue, programmes that combine entertainment with language use offer one avenue for encouraging participation. Their longer-term contribution, however, will depend on whether the interest they generate translates into more consistent use of indigenous languages at home, in schools and across public life.
