The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, has called on Nigerians to prioritise and preserve their mother tongue, describing it as a vital emblem of socio cultural participation and identity.
In a statement issued to commemorate the 2026 International Mother Language Day, Mrs Soludo emphasised the importance of linguistic heritage and cultural pride. The annual celebration, observed every February 21, promotes awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity as well as multilingualism across the globe.
First proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 1999, the observance was later formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly through the adoption of Resolution 56 26 in 2002.
Mrs Soludo, who is also the founder of Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo, described mother language as a treasure that must be carried with pride. According to her, no one can protect a language better than those who own and speak it.
She urged Nigerians to speak their native languages without fear, limitation or apology, stressing that there is no shame in celebrating one’s linguistic roots. She lamented that many indigenous languages are gradually disappearing because they are not celebrated enough within families and communities.
“Our culture is incomplete if it does not reflect the distinctiveness of what we speak that connects us as a community. Language is a genuine identity,” she said.
Encouraging citizens to cherish and promote their linguistic heritage, Mrs Soludo maintained that a mother tongue remains a powerful symbol of belonging and socio cultural participation, urging Nigerians to speak it proudly and consistently.
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