Gani Adams calls for reversal of mother tongue policy in Nigerian schools

The convener of the Oodua Progressive Union Worldwide has appealed to Nigeria’s education authorities to reverse a decision to eliminate mother tongue instruction from the national school curriculum.

Gani Adams, who also holds the title of Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, made the call in a statement directed at the Minister of Education. The policy change has drawn criticism from advocates of indigenous languages who argue that early learning in a child’s first language improves overall educational outcomes.

Nigeria operates a multilingual education environment. English serves as the official language of government and most formal instruction, yet the country is home to more than 500 indigenous languages. For decades, education policy encouraged the use of mother tongues, especially in the early years of primary schooling, to help children grasp concepts before transitioning to English.

The recent curriculum revision removed explicit reference to mother tongue as the language of instruction. Critics say the move risks accelerating the decline of local languages and could hinder learning among pupils who enter school with limited exposure to English.

Adams urged the minister to reconsider the policy, emphasising the cultural and pedagogical value of teaching children in the language they speak at home. He framed the appeal as a matter of preserving Nigeria’s linguistic heritage while improving educational equity.

The federal government has not yet issued a detailed public response to the request. The outcome of the appeal will be watched by language rights groups and regional leaders concerned about the long-term survival of Nigeria’s diverse tongues.

Supporters of the original policy point to research showing that children who begin schooling in their mother tongue often perform better in later years than those immersed immediately in a second language. Reversing the curriculum change would require updating textbooks, teacher training materials and assessment guidelines across Nigeria’s 36 states.

Based on reporting by The Guardian Nigeria.