In a bid to preserve and promote the Yoruba language and cultural heritage, the Light-Up Africa Development Initiative (LADI), a non-governmental organization, has launched the Yoruba Language Preservation Initiative’s Brain Trust Project.
The project aims to safeguard the Yoruba language and heritage through educational contests designed to promote proficiency, creativity, and cultural pride among young people aged 15 to 18 across the Yoruba-speaking states in Nigeria.
To drive the initiative, LADI has appointed the General Manager of Pensioners’ FM, Dr. Babatunde Tiamiyu, as one of the members of the Brain Trust.
His appointment was confirmed in a letter signed by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusola Macaulay, who described Dr. Tiamiyu as a “symbol of Yoruba language and culture rebirth.”
Mr. Macaulay said Dr. Tiamiyu’s inclusion was based on his “versatility and dexterity in promoting Yoruba language and cultural values,” noting his vast experience as a broadcaster and his previous works on UNICEF-supported projects.
According to Macaulay, the Brain Trust Project seeks to reverse the decline in the use of indigenous languages among young people and ensure that Yoruba remains vibrant and relevant for future generations.
“The project has been designed to enhance fluency in Yoruba language, showcase cultural expressions, and instill a sense of pride and ownership in Yoruba identity,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the educational competition, Ewa Èdè, Ẹ Jẹ́ Ká Gbẹ́ Lárugẹ (Beauty of Language Let’s Celebrate It), which is the brainchild of LADI, will foster unity, community engagement, peace, and understanding among Yoruba-speaking states.
The competition, expected to commence next year after preliminary knockout stages, will bring together experts and cultural influencers who will provide strategic guidance to ensure the project’s success.
Dr. Tiamiyu described the appointment as an honour and a call to further contribute to preserving Africa’s linguistic and cultural identity.
