Isaac-Moses urges parents to encourage use of mother tongue

Mrs Nneka Isaac-Moses, Managing Director, Goge Africa, has urged parents to train and encourage their children to communicate in their indigenous languages.

The culture and tourism expert said this at the cultural day event of the 2024 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Press Week in Lagos.

She spoke on the topic “The Power of Cultural Story Telling: Media as a Driver for National Rebirth”.

Our Energy Correspondent, National, reports that Isaac-Moses advised parents to begin to show some sense of patriotism and responsibility to uphold all aspect of African culture and train their wards to embrace it.

“Let us learn how to integrate and teach the younger ones our mother tongue.

“You are not being fashionable and patriotic by allowing your children not speak your language.

“It is senseless taking pride in your children, if they don’t speak your language but the western. It is not class at all. You need to be deliberate about it.

“The social media is killing our culture as well, we must all arise to address this issue,” she said.

Speaking on the topic, Isaac-Moses urged the media to uphold the dissemination of positive and beautiful, as well as enduring story of the country.

She said the media must also invest their time and energy in projecting more of Nigerian stories that uphold the nation’s heritage, as well as promoting peace and unity.

“We should promote the best of us not negative stories. It is our duty to decide not to sell stories that will cause division. We should promote the strong men of integrity who can inspire the younger generation.

“I charge the media to take over the mantle of leadership, if not Nigeria will crumble.

“Authenticity in reporting is quite important to guide people aright, fakeness will not take you far. Being who you are and what you are will consistently take you higher.

“The media should engage more in cultural promotion through cultural story telling, we should stop flying sensational stories. We should always reflect on people’s identity.

“The media must project glamorous stories about Nigeria. We should drown the voices of negativity and division.

“You have a role to play as a media house,” she said.

Also speaking, Didier Bayeye, an African tourism and culture expert, advised Nigerians to be determined in taking pride in their culture as well as telling good stories of the country.

“We shouldn’t fight our heritage and tradition, we should celebrate them.

“As media people, you are able to build or destroy. A lot of negativity said about Nigeria should be corrected, let’s be determined to tell our story to build a beautiful image.

“The media which is suppose to drive positive change is unfortunately keeping quiet.

“As media, we have the power to change things. We should be careful of identity deprivation. Our culture is our identity. They do not make us less human.

Mr Adeleye Ajayi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos Chapel, appreciated everyone present for the ocassion, as he harped on the need to uphold African culture in its entirety.

Also, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief , NAN, commended the effort of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), NAN chapel, for putting up an impactful programme.

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