Pro-Chancellor urges government to promote Edo language
The Pro-Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Engr. (Dr.) G.O Isibor has called on the State Government and traditional institutions in the State to promote the use of Edo language in homes and schools. He made this call when members of the board of Benson Idahosa University Centre for Edo Studies paid a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House, Benin City. He harped on the need to develop Edo language in schools in the state, and stressed that “Edo has a rich history, language and culture but we are not doing enough to make it popular across the world.”
The Pro-Chancellor who is the Chairman of University’s Governing Council, commended the governor for his developmental strides across the state and his uncommon leadership style anchored on peace and good governance. In his response, the governor said his administration and the palace of the Benin Monarch are worried about the challenges posed by the low premium attached to the state’s indigenous languages, and are looking at ways to propagate Edo history and language in schools across the state.
He disclosed that at the recent retreat by members of the state’s executive council at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and added that “the focus was on how to transform the education sector in the state.” The governor expressed his administration’s willingness to partner with the Centre to include some of the Edo books authored by the Center in the state’s school curriculum. “Our focus is not only on Edo language but also on Afemai and Esan languages,” he said.