Education
By: Mujidat Oyewole
Ilorin, Jan. 8, 2026 (NAN) Prof. Aderonke Soetan of the University of Ilorin has urged government and education stakeholders to prioritise mother-tongue instruction at the foundational stages of learning.
She made the call while delivering the university’s 295th Inaugural Lecture, titled ‘Unlocking Learning and Instructional Resources’, on Thursday in Ilorin.
Soetan described education as acquiring knowledge, skills, values and habits that enable individuals contribute meaningfully to society, both within and outside the school environment.
She noted that education draws out learners’ potential, stressing that outcomes depend largely on learning environments and the methods through which instruction is delivered.
“Instructional resources include models, charts, real objects, drawings, pictures and pebbles that stimulate learners’ senses.
“These materials are most effective when aligned with learners’ language and cultural context, as instructional resources spark interest and unlock learners’ potential,” she said.
Soetan said mother-tongue-based resources strengthen understanding and help preserve indigenous languages, especially Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
The lecturer explained that effective teaching now explores e-learning, mobile devices, hearing-assistive technologies, 3D animation, virtual reality, digitisation and other innovations.
She urged educational technologists and curriculum developers to design culturally relevant instructional materials in indigenous languages to enhance comprehension and safeguard Nigeria’s linguistic heritage. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
MOB/KTO
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo