LASU’s 117th Inaugural Lecture: Prof Olutumbi Ayodele urges FG to institutionalize language policy for national cohesion
Professor Ayotunde Olutumbi Ayodele, Professor of English, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (LASU) has urged the Nigerian government to ensure the institutionalization of language policy for national cohesion.
Professor Olutumbi Ayodele made the recommendation while speaking as the 117th Inaugural Lecturer of the university at the Buba Marwa Auditorium at Ojo on the 27th of January, 2026.
Speaking on the theme: “In the Multitude of Tongues: Leveraging Language Systems for National Brotherhood”, the accomplished Professor further recommended that such national language policy should be embedded in legislative frameworks and aligned with the nation’s developmental goals, while not abandoning the mother tongues.
He said, “Nigeria must develop and rigorously implement a functional and inclusive national language policy that recognises English as our common thread, yet honours the richness of our indigenous tongues as carriers of culture and identity. Such a policy should be embedded in legislative frameworks and aligned with our nation’s developmental goals.”
The internationally renowned linguist said Curricula at all levels of education should explicitly incorporate critical literacy skills that enable citizens who can listen with discernment, read with insight, and have developed the ability to question, analyse, and respond constructively to political and governance discourse. This, he said, would empower informed participation in democratic processes, adding that democracy thrives only when its people can think beyond slogans.
He further called for Re-engineering of Legislative Discourse for Clarity and Accessibility. He said, “Legislative drafting and parliamentary debates must shed its cloak of obscurity, employing instead clear, accessible, and inclusive language to bridge the gap between governance and the governed. This will engender public trust and strengthen accountability in those who make the decisions that shape their destiny.”
He said English language as a means of Pedagogy for Developmental Outcomes should be enhanced. “The imperative of reimagining English language pedagogy can no longer be ignored. Teaching English in Nigeria should move beyond grammatical competence, suitable for passing examinations and gaining admission into tertiary institutions. English pedagogy must include functional, communicative, and socio-cultural dimensions of the language that equip learners to navigate diverse professional, business, diplomatic, and civic contexts. Let English be taught not just to pass examinations, but to pass the test of nationhood.”
Other recommendations by the astute educationist include integration of Discourse Awareness in Public Sector Training, saying that government agencies and public institutions must not only embrace discourse awareness; they should undergo training in the socio-cognitive dimensions of discourse. In particular, those involved in policy communication must be trained to speak in ways that unite, not divide; to communicate not just information, but shared purpose. This, he said, would ensure that public communication promotes unity, reduces divisiveness, and fosters shared national values.
Further, he called for the institutionalisation of Compulsory Media Ethics and Critical Discourse Awareness. “Media ethics training should be made a core requirement for journalists, broadcasters, and digital content creators, with periodic refresher courses to adapt to evolving communication landscapes.”
He also advocated integration of Research into Language Planning. Prof Olutumbi Ayodele said that
Language policy and planning in Nigeria should be evidence-driven, drawing on the wealth of research in applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, and discourse studies, to ensure policies are culturally sensitive, socially inclusive, and development-oriented.
He further made propositions which include the establishment of a language academy or Linguistic Centre, which would have responsibilities such as Language Engineering Strategies for National Brotherhood leading to Promotion of Multilingual Education, Development of a National Lingua Franca; embarking on continuous development of the indigenous languages to prevent their ultimate extinction; Collaborating with the state to ensure that every language plan adopted is culturally sensitive, socially inclusive, and aimed squarely at national development; adoption of Ethical Communication Codes for Politicians and Political Parties. He stated that given the powerful role political discourse plays in shaping public perception, mobilising communities, and framing national narratives, politicians and political parties should subscribe to a code of ethical Communication and Responsible Language Use in Political Practice. This code, he said, should make it mandatory for: political office holders and candidates to undergo structured training in ethical language use to curb incitement, hate speech, and divisive rhetoric, political parties to develop internal codes of conduct for public statements, manifestos, debates, and campaign materials, ensuring that all communications foster unity, truthfulness, and respect for diversity. And the establishment of independent language and ethics monitoring bodies to review political speeches and campaign messages, publicly recognising those that promote national cohesion and calling out those that violate agreed ethical standards.
In conclusion, he said, “It is my fervent belief that such a framework will reduce politically-driven polarisation and bigotry, enhance democratic culture by promoting issue-based rather than personality- or ethnicity-based politics, and foster trust between citizens and leaders, thereby strengthening national brotherhood. If we commit to these steps, language will cease to be a mere medium – it will become our bridge, our bond, and our blueprint for a united and prosperous Nigeria.”
