The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Kayode Adebowale has stated that the global status of the Yoruba language could not make it go into extinction, saying he was delighted to know that the Yoruba language is being spoken globally.
Adebowale stated this when receiving eight Fulbright scholars from Howard University, Washington DC, United States of America who are at the Yoruba Language Centre, (YLC), University of Ibadan, to learn Yoruba language and culture during a courtesy visit to his office.
His words, “I am very excited about the Yoruba language. It is my language! When we hear the language being spoken globally, it gives us a lot of hope that there is no way this language will die.”
Adebowale lamented the preference some Yoruba native speakers have given to the English language over the Yoruba language stressing, “There are people that are not even of Yoruba origin who can speak the language very well. It gives one hope that Yoruba language will not go into extinction.”
The VC, therefore, welcome the Fulbright scholars and encouraged them to make good use of the rich programme to be equipped with relevant information as regards Yoruba language and culture, urging the YLC Director to attach them only to families that would make them know the language within a short time.
In his response, the American Director of the Fulbright Grant, Dr Bayo Omolola revealed that the eight scholars were from different universities in USA under the umbrella of Howard University, Washington DC and sponsorship from University of America Fulbright Grant.
The Director of the Yoruba Language, Centre of the University of Ibadan, Prof. P. A. Ogundeji, said the Fulbright scholars were supposed to be 13 but were reduced to eight because of the state of insecurity in Nigeria.
The eight Fulbright scholars are Ms Taylor Ajewole Duckett, Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington; Ms Yewande Omolola Addie, Department of Mass Communication, University of Florida; Mr Tajudeen Bioku, Department of African Studies and Research Program, Howard University, Washington DC; Mr Joshua Kerobo, Department of Musicology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Mr Muyiwa Aseda, Department of African Studies, Howard University, Washington DC; Ms Barinaale Ovbe, Department of Economics, Howard University, Washington DC; Mr Aderinola Lawal, Department of Computer Science, New York University and Ms Deborah A. Ogunmodede, Department of Yoruba, University of Florida.
