Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana has enjoined parents to expose their children to their culture and tradition.
Falana made the call yesterday in Lagos at a book presentation.
According to Falana, “Parents now hide under the shade of civilization to deny their children of their culture, tradition and language.”
Falana, who was the Chairman of the event also observed that as good as the English and French languages, none of them has the deepness of the expression to adequately attend to the communicative demands of children growing up in the culture alien to the foreign tongues.
The human rights activist however enjoined the author to make the book available in the various indigenous languages of Nigerians, stating further that parents should endeavor to speak their local languages to the children for them to understand and speak the languages.
The Chairman of the occasion also recalled that the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi during his time would always speak the Yoruba language to his children as a matter of principle adopted in his home.
According to Falana, the tactic worked for the late Fawehinmi and his wife by making teaching of the tradition easier in their home.
The book, titled “Tolu’s October 1st birthday” was written by a journalist and culture enthusiast, Mrs. Grace Edema who called Africans and especially Nigerians to bridge the cultural gap existing between the older generation and the upcoming Nigerians.
Special Guest of Honour at the event, Professor Ayo Olukotun applauded the author for bringing the Nigerian culture closer to the people through her book.
Olukotun however lamented the dwindling culture of self education among Nigerians.
According to him, one does not need to be within the four walls of a former school before education can take place.
“The dying culture of education should be rejuvenated in the homes and schools,” he called.
Reviewing the book, Acting Deputy Editor, Saturday Independent newspaper, Mr. Yemi Adebisi noted that the author from the book title to the last word displayed a rare potential as a child worker and journalist.
Edema, a former staffer at the Independent newspaper had earlier written two other books including “Who is Enoch Adeboye?” The other book is titled, “There is Greatness in you.”
Edema resides in Lagos with her family.
