Have u ever wondered why young children from the western part of Nigeria can't speak the yoruba dialect very efficiently? I will tell you why; It is because their parents didn't take their time to teach such children how tospeak the native language or what is is basically the mother tongue. Childern born between the 70s and early 80s are deeficient as far as speaking their mother tongue and you may want to ask this is so?Anyway, some of these children attribute this deficiencyto negligience on the part their parents, in failing to teach them how to communicate in their mother tongue.This is very prone in the eastern part of Nigeria, basically the igbos in particular and this affecting the children and youths from this region in communicating effectively among their peers and adults alike.

The term native language is used to indicate a language that a person is as proficient in as a native inhabitant of that language's base country or as proficient as the average person who speaks no other language but that language.. Sometimes the term mother tongue or language is used for the language a person learn at home,usually from one's parents. The usage of these terms is far standardized; however, the term first language is used for the language the speaker speaks best.
Sometimes, the term first language, second, and third langauge are used to indicate levels of language skills, so that it can be said that such a person knows more than one language asfirst or second language level. Mother tongue or native can also be misleading ,regardless of their definitions.It is quite possible that the mother tongue learned is no longer a speaker's dominant language, as in the case of of most Igbo indigenes, whose families have moved to a new linguistic environment, may lose, in part or in totality, the language they first acquired.

Mother tongue should not be interpreted to mean that it is the language of one's mother.In some paternal societies, the wife moves in with the husband and thus,may have a different first language or dialect, than the local language of the husband.Yet their children usually speak their language.Only a few will learn to speak their mother's language like native dialect.

Nevertheless, in the contemporary Nigeria, many youths have replaced their mother tongue with the English language,which is a borrowed language from our colonial masters, while others have become so conversant with the ever popular English lingo,otherwise known as pidgin English.I think the misconception of teaching our children English language as the first language should be corrected, so that our children would learn to appreciate their mother tongue.

If urgent measures are not taken perhaps in the nearest future, English language will take the place of our mother tongue.It is amazing how fast many Nigerians want to do away with their mother tongue.
Hopefully, it won't get to that extend whereby English will replace our mother tongue.
However, this ought not to be so because the mother tongue is our heritage and we should therefore guide it.There is need for a conscientious efforts by all stakeholders in preserving our mother tongue.Better orientation needs to be given to our youths on the benefits of preserving our mother tongue and passing it to generations yet unborn.

The home is the first point of call for a national effort in preserving our heritage.So the parents owe it as a point of duty to keep their children abreast with their mother tongue .Migration should not be an excuse to bastardize our native dialect rather it should be an avenue for propagating our mother tongue and possibly turning it into one of the international languages being spoken around the world.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has reacted to the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, saying he welcomed with humility and gratitude to God Almighty from whom all power and authority come, the affirmation by the tribunal that he was duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the majority of votes lawfully cast in the presidential election of April 21, 2007.The President is gratified that the Tribunal unanimously confirmed his avowed belief that the acknowledged imperfections notwithstanding, he was the winner of the presidential poll, which was conducted in substantial compliance with all relevant laws. He thanked Nigerians who have remained steadfast in their support for his administration as it strives to fulfill its mandate for positive and significant changes in the living conditions of all citizens. The President urged his two valiant opponents in the election who petitioned against its outcome to accept the verdict in goodfaith. His invitation for them to cooperate with him in moving Nigeria forward remains and he calls on them to accept it now in the greater interest of the country. He reaffirms his total commitment to serving Nigeria to the best of his abilities and running a purposeful and result-oriented administration that will yield tangible and visible benefits for Nigerians. The President also reaffirms his commitment to working with all stakeholders to fully address the problems associated with past elections in the country and achieve a positive reformation of Nigeria's electoral system that will ensure that the problems do not re-occur in future. Meanwhile reactions have begun to trail the ruling from all over the country and beyond.

The fact that the Niger Delta region that produces this revenue is one of the poorest regions in the world may be news especially to Nigerians, majority of whom, outside the Niger Delta do not know the situation on the ground. The Niger Deltans out of frustration have resolved to control their own resources (and rightly so) and they are called militants. If demanding what is rightly yours makes you a militant, then should it not be so? Imagine if this crude oil was in Northern Nigeria, will ‘Derivation’ (Resource Control) not be a major factor in revenue sharing in Nigeria.I have decided, wherever possible, to pictorially present my opinions on the Nigerian situation, for a picture represents a thousand words, it graphically brings home to readers the real situation, as it is, on the ground. The real deal.Dear readers below are pictorial representation of the situation in Niger Delta today (Courtesy of BBC Online and www.unitedijawstates.com), the goose that lay the Nigerian golden eggs that are squandered hundreds of miles away from where the goose lays. This is what the Niger Deltans are fighting against and in demanding’ rightly’ for what is rightly theirs, they are called ‘militants’.

The train towards our current dilemma of mediocrity and a mentality that abhors progress started in 1957 when the progressive camp of Nigerians asked for independence. The North opposed it for primordial reasons and as a consequence delayed independence for another 3 years. Since then, the line between the progressives who favour radical revolutionary change and those who prefer the unprogressive status quo has increasingly become manifest. Professor Chukwuma Soludo is no doubt a victim of the unprogressive camp, that has historically abhorred ambition, creativity and change. This same group has ensured by blocking any move towards true federalism, that the rest of Nigeria continues at their own pace

Nigeria presents a challenge which only a dynamic, determined, courageous, and progressive thinker can solve. But sectional ethnic interests which has remained in conflict with each other has continued to muzzle any such dynamic individuals geared towards radical change. It has resulted in mediocrity, and encouraged the resort to witch hunting those who ordinarily would be celebrated in other climes. It would thus be difficult to separate the ongoing Professor Chukwuma Soludo saga from the politics of a sectional interest group and political cabal. Professor Soludo is Nigeria’s equivalent of the legendary Alan Greenspan, America‘s erstwhile and very successful Governor of the Bank of America. Against a massive campaign by interest groups determined to maintain the status quo, he courageously oversaw the recapitalization of Banks which ended an era of weak and frequently failing banks engaged in “corporate 419” as they frequently made off with depositors funds.

He also among other critical reforms, re-organised the Nigerian security printing and minting which for the first time in its history succeeded in printing all currency locally. The sum total of his banking reforms has heralded an era of unbelievable confidence in the financial sector which has created an unprecedented boom in stocks and shares and stabilised the exchange rates of the Naira against other international currencies. His style of leadership has brought a professionalism, talent and creativity rarely seen in our clime.

His recent announcement of a strategic agenda for the Naira which proposes to bring the Naira at par with the dollar, has predictably brought out all shades and manner of vultures ready to sink their talons into the heart of an acknowledged progressive thinker and reformer. Some of them have in the process sought to remind us, in a bid to destroy his legacy out of both jealousy and sectional witch hunting, that neither the recapitalization nor the currency redenomination are originally his ideas. Isn’t it revealing that those who opposed both the recapitalization and proposed redenomination are now telling us the ideas are not originally his? No doubt because they loath the success of the recapitalization and are afraid of the potential success of the redenomination exercise. This indeed is enough proof of their intentions

Nigerians have never lacked any ideas on how to effect positive change and move the nation forward. What has always lacked is the political will and courage to implement them. In the same vein, the banking reforms necessary to overhaul the banking system was never a secret, what lacked as always was someone with the professionalism, courage and zeal to damn the odds and carry it through and professor Soludo happened to be that man.

Professor Soludo is human and could have made mistakes, but that cannot and should not take away the fact that he is a daring, committed and determined professional who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of an ungrateful nation. What i see in the present attempts to rubbish and humiliate him for daring to propose bold new initiatives for the Naira is the same penchant that has seen us destroying achievers and exalting mediocrity which has contributed in grounding us in perpetual poverty.

The consequences of Nigeria’s penchant for rubbishing talent and professionalism would result in increasing brain drain, and discourage those who have positive ideas from initiating them. It is a safe bet, that the interest groups on Soludo’s trail are already preparing someone from their ethnic group to take his job, not out of merit, but out of a tragic ethnic rat race, and primitive quest for domination which is responsible for the legacy of Nigeria’s historical misrule and arrested development.

Rioting broke out yesterday in the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki as Nigerians, mainly young demonstrators, confronted the Police in that country after the death of a Nigerian immigrant.Greek television showed footage of dozens of smashed windows and several damaged cars. Police said the victim, whose name has not been made public, had been selling CDs and DVDs illegally, and that he jumped from the first floor of a cafeteria to escape a police inspection. His injuries were fatal and he died on the spot.

The potential role of the tourism sector as a major instrument for socio-economic development cannot be overemphasized. These potentials cannot be realised unless our numerous tourist attractions are well developed, packed and promoted, with diligent attention to security and welfare of visitors. Nigeria Tourism Official web site is set to serve as the mouth piece of stakeholders in the pushing for positive changes in this all-important sector. You are therefore, invited to be part of this exciting development

Beauty in Diversity

Besides the many natural features of Nigeria, the cultural assets of the nation are of universal recognition. The richness and diversity of the Nigerian culture is a manifestation of the socio-cultural differences of the over 250 ethnic groups that inhabit the land for ages. These, couple with hospitality of the over 110 million people, make Nigeria one of the richly endowed potential tourist destinations in the globe.
No matter your interest, Nigeria has something for you to explore. From sandy beaches, pepper-soups, unspoilt wild-life parks to addictive Afro-beats music; it is unforgetable experience.


Nigeria has abundant physical attractions ranging from hills, waterfalls, springs, lakes and mountains across the lenght and breadth of the Country.

These have been created by ingenuity of Nigerians to provide relaxtion. Examples include Obudu Ranch, Whispering Palms, Gembu Resort, Chammah Park and Rayfield Resort.

The cultural assests of Nigeria are among the most fascinating in Africa, some of which include the Eyo in Lagos, Osun Oshogbo and Durbar.

Save the commemorative postal stamps that were unveiled by the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), the 30th anniversary of Africa’s biggest cultural fiesta went unsung. Perhaps, the declining fortunes of the national theatre and the uncertainty surrounding its current status were responsible for the low-key ceremony.
However, the reasons that caused the declining fortunes of the theatre ought to be fully appreciated in order to see how best this national patrimony could be salvaged. For more than 15 years, the theatre’s structure has been in decay due largely to official neglect and the failure to follow the recommendations of the Bulgarian designers regarding the cooling system, water supply and guarding against erosion within the expansive complex. Inadequacy of funds and official ineptitude prevented the theatre from being run as prescribed by its designers.
Consequently, the roof started leaking, the central cooling system broke down, a part of the basement started sinking, the bridge linking the Ijora highway caved in. Since 1992 after the disastrous screening of Aiye, the popular film by the late Hubert Ogunde, in which two people died in a stampede to gain entry, the 2,500-seater main hall has remained virtually abandoned. Power failure often shuts down activities and keeps the glow off the crown of the theatre, which was designed to resemble a soldier’s cap. In essence, the national theatre has been a monument in decline.
The bitter reality is that in its present state of decay, the national theatre serves no purpose to the nation’s image or the arts community. If capable private investors are seen to have emerged out of a transparent bidding exercise, with verifiable asset base, it will be counterproductive not to allow the national theatre a new lease of life.
A lifeline beyond the purview of government is an appropriate step to rescue the monument from further decay. The glaring neglect over the years has demonstrated that the government is unwilling to preserve the complex for its symbolic value as a national heritage that should not be treated as a profit-making enterprise. The salvation of the national theatre, therefore, lies in the hands of competent private