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Dr. (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, wife of Anambra State Governor and the Founder of “Healthy Living Initiative,” has called on Nigerians to take pride in speaking their mother tongues, describing it as a priceless cultural treasure that should be preserved and celebrated.
She made the call in Awka, the Anambra State capital, in a message to mark the 2026 International Mother Language Day, with the theme – “Youth Voices on Multilingual Education”.
International Mother Language Day, marked every February 21, since 2000, promotes linguistic/cultural diversity and multilingualism.
She said no one could better protect a language than its native speakers, urging people to speak their mother tongues without fear, limitation, or apology.
“Mother language is a treasure that everyone should carry with pride. There is no shame in speaking your mother tongue and celebrating its beauty and uniqueness,” she said.
Indigenous languages, she said, were fast disappearing because they were neither sufficiently celebrated nor promoted by their owners.
According to her, culture remains incomplete if it does not reflect the distinctiveness of the language that binds people together as a community.
She described language as a genuine identity and an emblem of socio-cultural participation, encouraging citizens to cherish and preserve their linguistic heritage.
“Let no one tell you that you can not speak it. Speak it. Cherish it. Be proud of it,” she added.
