‘Teaching with lingual franca will preserve indigenous languages’-Educationist

A renowned educationist in Osun State and Proprietor of Okanlawon Science Academy, Osogbo, Mr. Badmus Ismail Okanlawon has posited that ‘teaching with lingual franca would promote the use of indigenous languages among Nigerian students and preserve local languages’, Our Osun State Correspondent reports

According to him, the proposal to formulate education policy in which pupils would be thought in their mother tongues in the schools is a good idea that would help in preserving the indigenous languages for generations. 

Okanlawon observed that even science courses could be thought with Nigerian indigenous languages, saying that the students tend to understand the lesson comprehensively if the expiation was given in their mother tongue.

Speaking on the Role Model Day of the School, Okanlawon said the event was part of strategies to familiarise the pupils in the school with quality people worthy of emulation by showcasing such individuals to the pupils so as to guide the children to be good and choose their role models perfectly.  

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Osun State Council, Engineer Felix Adeniran Ibitoye was featured as a role model in the fourth edition of the event and that the occasion afforded the children the opportunity to interact with Ibitoye and learn from him.

Mr. Badmus Ismail Okanlawon pointing something to Engineer Felix Adeniran Ibitoye

Okanlawon said “Pupils would be able to choose perfect role models if parents, guardians, teachers and the media make them hear more about good people in the society rather than echoing the names and offences of the corrupt individuals in the hearing of the children all the time.”

Ibitoye who is popularly known as ‘Kilomodemo’ (what does a child know) was a former member of Osun State House of Assembly and he is currently a member of the National Executive of NSE. He was also the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Osun State Chapter and he is currently serving as Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

During the event, Ibitoye took time off to enlighten the pupils about the best way to live a meaningful life and the need to choose a worthy person as role model for the purpose of guidance and tutelage. 

Speaking with journalist, Ibitoye urged Nigerian government to encourage indigenous engineers by patronizing the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE members.  

According to him, “The government only sees the foreign engineers whenever anything is to be done in this country, neglecting the ones in the country. The only role a Nigerian engineer would play is to assist the foreigners and how will this grow our economy since the foreign engineers would take the money back to their countries.”

“There is nothing the foreigners can do that the Nigerians engineers cannot do. If you go to their plants, you will see Nigerians handling pivotal role in most of their construction activities. So, why can't we even create jobs in this country by promoting and patronizing our indigenous engineers?”

The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school, Mr. Yinka Anjous commended the school for organising the programme to assist the pupils in choosing role models so as to shape their lives in excellent way.

During the event, the outstanding students of the school were celebrated to the admiration of the parents and other guest who attended the event. 

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