By Ojurongbe, Bolaji Abdulmuiz.
I pledge to Nigeria my country.
To be faithful, loyal and honest…
In virtually all Nigerian schools, the extract above from our national anthem is recited every day by our supposed leaders of tomorrow, the vibrant readers of today. Many of these kids recite the pledge with enthusiasm hoping that the future has a colossal of success for them, and for those who hesitate to recite the poem with vigour, they are either flogged or punished by those who directly or indirectly are desecrating Nigeria’s economy and unity.
Language surpasses the line as being a means of communication; in fact, it is also a means of unity. It’s a tool that has brought many people together after getting lost and scattered in different places. Whatever language you speak, and wherever you come from, your presence will be warmly felt among the same language speakers like you. This is true especially when you are in the midst of foreigners. David Crystal in his book ‘The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English language’ (2010: 13) describes different functions of language among which is ‘the expression of identity …the signalling of who we are and where we ‘belong’. To kick against a particular language is to say the people do not exist; consequently, we are driving towards a disastrous state and a relegation of the highest order.
Link: http://creativewritingnews.net/2018/07/02/the-death-of-african-languages-time-to-wake-up/