The Director/ Principal, Queen’s College Lagos, Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Yakubu-Onyinloye, has urged the students not to forget their roots, as that is what made them who they are.
She was speaking at the Cultural Day organised for the graduating students on Friday, Aug. 12.
According to her, that day was usually set aside by the college to celebrate the diverse culture of the country, adding that it is usually held annually.
“You know in Nigeria, we are rich in culture. We have different cultures and different ethnic groups, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa. Efik, Kanuri, Tiv, Idoma, Kataf, to mention a few, and we want our children to be part and proud of it. It should not be only the English culture.
“They must strive to learn their culture, be able to speak their various mother tongues and know about their various traditions, and dressings. They should be able to know their culture and others express themselves flawlessly in their languages. We do not want our culture as a people to be extinct.
“We are Nigerians and we are proud to be Nigerians and of course, that is the whole essence of having the Unity Colleges, where we bring children from all across the federation so that they can bond, mix and learn together. It promotes unity in diversity,” she said
She then urged parents, mass media and the society at large, to intensify efforts in ensuring that culture and languages do not go into extinction, especially in the face of the inflow of technology.
The principal further stated that there was a need for parents to encourage their children to identify with their culture, speak their local languages and be proud of who they are.
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