By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS –Gbolahan Ogunleye, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly on weekend, urged members of his constituency to promote and preserve Yoruba Language from going into extinction.
He made the plea during the celebration of his 50th birthday anniversary at the Constituency office at Ebute area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
Ogunleye (APC-Ikorodu 1) expressed disparage over the loss of Yoruba values such as respect, greetings, way of dressing, native songs, names and others that once distinguished the region.
“Today, Yoruba language is facing a serious challenge to the extent that the coming generation is at a loss in the rudiments of their mother tongue.
“There is an urgent need to promote and preserve yoruba language because it teaches good morals.
“it teaches our children to be respectful to elders while the English Language does not, so it is imperative to protect and promote it,” he said.
Ogunleye, Chairman House Committee on Overseas investment and Sustainable Development Goals( SDG) said that the Lagos State House of Assembly(LAHA) has mandated usage of Yoruba language at the plenary every Thursdays.
He expressed gratitude to members of his constituency for their support and promised to make laws that would impact positively to the lives of Ikorodu residents.
The Citizens Compass reports that the lawmaker empowered no 70 women, mostly leaders of each ward with N50, 000 cash to enhance their businesses to commemorate his birthday.
The lawmaker also visited Chloe Orphanage home to deliver food items like; bags of beans, Garri, insecticides and beverages like Bournvita, indomie Noodles, Custard, Milk among other items worth N5 million.
In his remarks, Mr Japhet Odessnya, a political leader, commended the lawmaker for his generosity, kind hearted for women and the orphanage home as he urged the beneficiaries to use the cash judiciously.
Japhet, expressed his gratitude to Mr Mudasiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, for reviving Yoruba language and ensuring it as an acceptable language used at the floor of the house to make laws and all legislative matters.
“This gesture could have been channelled to jamboree, but he chose to give it to the needy, that is an exemplary type of lawmaker the society wants.
“As regards the language, Yoruba should be retooled and redefined because it has been taken away from us by colonialists,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Olukemi Olukoya, Chief Executive Officer of the Orphanage home, appreciated the lawmaker and wished him more glorious years and called on other philanthropists to emulate the gesture.
Earlier, Mrs Folasade Oloko, woman leader and beneficiary from Ikorodu North, expressed her gratitude on the cash empowerment and advised beneficiaries to use the cash given to them judiciously to empower themselves
