Health
Sustaining The Use Of Mother Tongue
Henry and his sister, Ebiere, are often cahllenged when occassions call for interaction in the dialect of their parents’ community, Okrika, in Rivers State.
The reason is clear. More often than not, whenever they visit the community, the residents habitually communicate in the dialect, which unfortunately, Henry and his sister do not understand.
The people are often bewildered by the inability of Henry and Ebiere to respond intelligibly during interactions in their native language.
The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Their parents, Mr and Mrs Dagogo, are in the habit of speaking only English language at home, in spite of the fact that they are both from the same community.
The story of Henry and his sister is, however, not extraordinary; as there are several similar cases in which children could not speak or understand any other language apart from English.
In contrast, however, there are also cases in which the use of mother tongue as the mode of communication in the home is encouraged by the parents.
For instance, Ogbonnaya and Kate speak Bini language because their mother, who is from Benin, communicates with them in her language, while their father, who is an Igbo man, communicates with them only in English language.
The man explains that the reason behind his decision to speak only English language to his children is because it might be somewhat cumbersome for them to pick all the three languages at the same time.
However, the situation is strikingly different in Dagogo’s family, as the parents never deemed it necessary to converse with their children in their mother tongue.
What then is the reason behind this decision?
“We decided to communicate with our children only in English language because we were more concerned about their proficiency in the language,” says Mrs Dagogo.
Nevertheless, Mr Audu Oloyede, an English Teacher at Starlite Secondary School, Ibadan, insists that children ought to be exposed to their mother tongue, particularly in the home setting. “The mother tongue should be the primary language in the home; it is the first language which a child acquires right from the parents,” he says.
Language experts then wonder why most young Nigerians could no longer speak their native language flawlessly.
They lament that the situation has reached a frightening dimension, as it signals the gradual extinction of several local languages.
Alarmist as such views tend to be, they are quite logical, as various organisations share a similar viewpoint.
For instance, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says that if nothing is done to reverse the situation, over half of the 6,000 languages, currently spoken across the world, may disappear before the end of this century.
Linguists also believe that with the disappearance of unwritten and undocumented languages, humanity will lose immense cultural wealth and ancestral knowledge, which are embedded in indigenous languages.
As parts of efforts to forestall the extinction of more languages, the UNESCO launched the International Mother Language Day, and the day is observed throughout the world on February 21 every year.
The celebration is designed to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, while highlighting the importance of mother tongue education.
Linguists say this is a good development because language has become the basic and versatile medium of communication which strengthens the foundations of a community.
This is because language does not only build relationships; it also builds people, especially when it is their native language, they add.
They also argue that the mother tongue is a preserver of culture, as it is capable of strengthening culture, traditional norms and values.
Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola, a professor of Y oruba language, says: “Language is important because it is the storehouse of culture and knowledge.
“That is the centre of controlled culture; so, you can’t know a culture without first knowing the language.”
Ishola urges parents to always strive to converse with their children in their mother tongue, adding that mothers should also endeavour to sing lullabies to their babies in their mother tongue.
He says that such actions will enable the children to pick up the language in the home setting.
“Also, broadcast stations should be encouraged to air more programmes in indigenous languages.
“We also hope that governments, both at the federal and state levels; will make the learning of mother tongue compulsory from pre-school level.
“That is where it is needed because the children will always remember the language while growing up,” Ishola says.
Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), stresses that “language expresses the worth of a person and his or her psychological wellbeing.
“It is also an avenue to showcase the pride and potential of an ethnic group, community or nation.
“Nigerians must not allow our local languages to die because if they do, it could lead to a loss of cultural, historical and ecological knowledge of the people,” he adds.
Nevertheless, Mr Onwuorah Aghility, the Chairman of the Abuja chapter of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), believes that the decline in the use of the mother tongue is due to the people’s false values and their propensity to behave and act like people from the Western world.
He, however, insists that the Igbo language is more at risk because’ ‘we travel wide, go to places and can settle anywhere; we learn other languages easily and fast.
“At the end of the day, we drop our own mother tongue to adapt to the lifestyle of the people of our host community and we speak English language, which is more universal, “ he says
However, Aghility believes that watching local movies with native languages will invariably promote a greater use of local Nigerian languages.
However, highlighting the importance of mother tongue to education, Jim Cummins of University of Toronto, Canada, says that bilingualism typically confers linguistic advantages on children.
In a publication — “Bilingual Children’s Mother Tongue: Why Is It Important for Education?” — Cummins insists that use of mother tongue should be encouraged in schools so as to develop the children’s ability to learn other languages.
“Bilingual children perform better in school when the school effectively teaches in the mother tongue and where appropriate, develops literacy in that language.
“By contrast, when children are encouraged to reject their mother tongue, the language’s development stagnates, while the children’s personal and conceptual foundation for learning is undermined,” he says.
Cummins suggests that parents should establish a strong home language policy, while providing ample opportunities for children to expand the functions for which they use the mother tongue.
In the light of this, observers, therefore, recommend that the use of mother tongue should be encouraged, even in schools.
However, there is a growing consciousness about the need to promote greater usage of mother tongue because of its myriad benefits.
ChiefTanko Zhimiko, the Ward Head of Galadimawa in Abuja, stresses that leaders should encourage the younger generation to take pride in speaking indigenous languages and view them as part of their cultural identity.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Deji Ademuyiwa, a Y oruba man who is married to an Igala lady, emphasises that parents have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that their children speak their indigenous languages.
“My children picked more of Igala but we both speak to them in our languages while they reply in English; they’re learning to speak Y oruba and Igala as they grow up.
“Teachers can also encourage the children to develop a greater interest in the use of mother tongue; they can do this by communicating to them strong affirmative messages about the value of speaking additional languages,” he said.
Whatever reasons adduced for or against the use of mother tongue, linguists believe that since culture is strongly connected with language, the mother tongue should be a veritable means of promoting Nigeria’s diverse cultures.
Folasade Folarin writes for the News Agency of Nigeria.
To address the increasing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities, the State Ministry of Health has trained healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault cases.
The Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, in a statement on Monday said the training equipped health workers with the knowledge and skills to provide professional, compassionate, and timely care to survivors.
Dr Folasade Oludara, Director, Family Health and Nutrition, State Ministry of Health, said the growing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities necessitated the upskilling of healthcare workers who are often the first responders to survivors.
Oludara, represented by Dr Oluwatosin Onasanya, Deputy Director, Child Health, said the government recognised the critical role of health professionals in both clinical management and legal documentation of sexual assault cases.
She explained that the training was designed to ensure healthcare workers are adequately equipped to identify, document, and manage sexual assault cases effectively.
According to her, the training will strengthen Lagos’ coordinated health system response to gender-based violence.
She disclosed that the state government had already provided equipment and specimen collection tools to health facilities, noting that the training complemented this investment by building the competence of personnel handling such sensitive cases.
Oludara explained that doctors and nurses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels who serve as first contact points for survivors were carefully selected from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, particularly from areas with higher incident rates.
The SGBV Programme Manager, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Juradat Aofiyebi, emphasised that the capacity-building initiative was a strategic step toward improving survivor-centred healthcare delivery and prosecution outcomes.
Aofiyebi added that the training underscored the government’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of sexual assault through a robust, multi-sectoral approach.
“The training provides healthcare workers with the knowledge to properly identify survivors, document findings accurately, and provide comprehensive care, all of which contribute to justice delivery and prevention of repeat offences.
She said the ministry would sustain such training to ensure that every survivor who presented at a Lagos health facility received quality, non-judgmental care.
Mrs Adebanke Ogunde, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of medical documentation in sexual assault trials.
She explained that most convictions hinge on the quality of medical reports and forensic evidence provided by healthcare professionals, noting that medical reports served as vital corroborative evidence in court, particularly in cases involving children.
“Your medical reports are crucial; they can determine whether justice is served or denied,” she said.
Ogunde reminded health workers of their legal duty to report suspected sexual assault cases to the police or the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Similarly, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Consultant Family Physician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), underscored the importance of timely medical attention, psychosocial support, and non-stigmatising care for survivors.
Sodipo explained that immediate presentation within 72 hours of assault improved chances of preventing infections and collecting viable forensic evidence.
He commended Lagos State for sustaining its inter-agency collaboration and continuous professional training on SGBV.
Sodipo, however, called for the strengthening of DNA and forensic capacities, improved insurance coverage, and better remuneration for healthcare workers.
“We must sustain motivation and continuous retraining if we want to retain skilled professionals and enhance justice outcomes,” he added.
Also, Mrs Margret Anyebe, Claims Officer, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), said domestic and sexual violence response had been integrated into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
Anyebe explained that survivors of sexual and domestic violence are covered for medical treatment, investigations, and follow-up care under the state’s Equity Fund for vulnerable groups.
“Hospitals are to provide first-line care, document, and refer survivors appropriately, while LASHMA ensures prompt reimbursement and oversight,” she said.
The technical session of the ongoing National Council on Health (NCH) meeting on Monday reviewed 35 out of the 82 policy memos submitted ahead of full Council deliberations scheduled for later in the week.
Dr Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Technical Session of the 66th Regular meeting of the NCH ongoing in Calabar, Cross River.
He said that 10 of the memos considered were recommended for Council’s approval, eight were noted, and 18 stepped down for further work.
According him, two additional memos were deferred and will be re-presented after revisions are made.
At the reconvening of the session, Ms Kachallom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that there were five memos from the Coordinating Minister of Health, adding that they were all related to the Department of Food and Drugs.
Daju said that the memos were stepped down on Monday and scheduled for re-presentation.
She also provided clarification on the previously contentious healthcare waste-management memo, explaining that the N3.5 million requests tied to the proposal had already been repurposed by the Global Fund.
“I have followed up, and I am informed that the funds have been reprogrammed. Just so we put it to rest, we will not be discussing that memo anymore,” she said.
She also said that the final memo considered on Monday was the proposal for the inclusion of telemedicine services under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“The next memo scheduled for presentation is the proposal for the establishment of Medipool as a Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO) for medicines and health commodities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Dr Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), formally notified the Council of the establishment of Medipool, a new public-private GPO created to strengthen the procurement of medicines and health commodities nationwide.
Presenting an information memorandum at the technical session, Ogbe explained that Medipool was the first nationally approved GPO designed to leverage economies of scale, negotiate better prices, and ensure quality-assured medicines.
He said this was beginning with primary healthcare facilities funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, Medipool was established after a proposal to the Ministry of Health, followed by appraisals and endorsements by the Project Implementation and Verification Committee (PIVAC) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
“It subsequently received Federal Executive Council approval, with MOFI now owning 10 per cent of the company’s shares. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has also approved its operations.
“Under the model, Medipool will work with Drug Management Agencies (DMAs) in all states to aggregate national demand and negotiate directly with reputable manufacturers to obtain competitive prices and guaranteed-quality supplies.
“The platform will function as a one-stop shop for DMAs, who will then distribute medicines to health facilities through existing state structures.”
Ogbe added that while Medipool will initially focus on BHCPF-supported primary healthcare centres, it was expected to expand to other levels of care nationwide.
“The organisation will provide regular reports to the ministry of health and participate in national logistics working groups to ensure transparency, oversight, and technical guidance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Day One of the 66th NCH technical session opened with a call reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage under the theme “My Health, My Right”.
“The delegates also adopted the amended report of the 65th NCH, setting the stage for informed deliberations.
The implementation status of the 19 resolutions from the previous Council was also reviewed, highlighting progress and gaps.
The authorities of Police Clinic in Port Harcourt have reported high cases of Malaria in its facility.
The revelation was made by Mrs Udoh Mba Robert, a Chief Superintendent of Police and senior medical personnel in the Clinic.
She told The Tide that,”the Hospital admits sixty (60) to seventy (70) patients in a month”.
On how the facility runs, she stated that the hospital is under the National Health Insurance Scheme as most patients are treated almost free.
She maintained that staff of the hospital have been trained professionally to manage health issues that come under the purview of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Mrs. Robert explained that malaria treatment also falls under NHIA, as patients are expected to pay only 10 per cent for their treatment while the government takes care of the outstanding bills.
NHIA, she further stated covers treatment and care for uniform personnel like the police force, military men, civil servants and all others working for the government.
Urging the public to seek professional medical attention, Mrs. Robert said the facility is open to workers in the federal services, especially police staff.
Favour Umunnakwe, Victory Awaji, Excel Nnodim
-
Sports5 days ago2026 WC: Nigeria, DR Congo Awaits FIFA Verdict Today
-
Politics5 days ago
ADC, PDP, LP Missing As INEC Set For By- Elections In Rivers
-
Environment5 days agoOxfam, partners celebrate 5 years of climate governance programmes in Nigeria
-
News4 days agoVictory Over Insurgency Certain, Tinubu Assures
-
Politics5 days ago
FG’s Economic Policies Not Working – APC Chieftain
-
Politics5 days ago2027: Diri Unveils RHA LG Coordinators, APC Congress Panel
-
Politics5 days agoReps To Meet,’Morrow Over INEC’s 2027 Election Timetable
-
Politics5 days agoGroup Continues Push For Real Time Election Results Transmission