Promoting multilingualism with Foluke Falayi’s 2nd Read with Me on International Literacy Day

By Editor

READ with Me on International Literacy Day, designed to commemorate the global celebration of literacy and organized Foluke Sijuwola Falayi, held its second edition at Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Exhibition Centre, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, September 13, 2024. The UNESCO-inspired theme for this year, ‘Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace’ is designed to foster multilingual education.

Falayi admonished guests in her speech “to learn the language of their environment,” and related it with her experience at a past African Writers Conference in Cameroon where her team almost missed their way because they couldn’t speak French.

“A few years ago, I travelled with fellow writers to Cameroon for African Writers Conference,” she told her audience. “There was one particular day, during the conference that our Cameroonians colleagues left for the conference ahead of us. Those of us from Nigerians nearly missed our way because we couldn’t hold a conversation in French. Cameroon is a multilingual nation with Francophone and Anglophone and many local languages; we were made to believe almost everyone could converse in both French and English, but the person conveying us didn’t understand a word in English. He was taking us from one place to the other in Douala City before we finally located the venue of the event.

“What am I trying to bring out of this personal story? earn the immediate language of your environment. If you are travelling to a place for a holiday, learn few words. Language still remains the vehicle of communication between humans, and if used effectively, it can open and doors. How many multilingual (persons) are in this room? I know every Nigerian speaks at least two languages; it’s either you speak Yoruba and English, Igbo and English, Hausa and English soon on. Some have even taken it further to learn international languages.”

Convener, Read with Me, Foluke Falayi

Falayi said ability to speak many languages is a plus that people should take seriously, as it aids basic understanding among people from diverse countries and ethnic nationalities.

According to her, “Being multilingual has many advantages in our day-to-day life, ranging from ability to negotiate with that Hausa selling his wares on the streets, the Igbo at their shops or the Yoruba at the market. Multilingualism itself is education. Most multilingual (people) read and write well compared to people who only speak a language. People who speak more than one language improve in their occupations. It brings about connection, empathy and strong bond. A study has shown that people who speak more than one language have talents for solving problems.”

Falayi ended her speech by greeting in different Nigerian major languages: Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and French.

Many speakers at the event included the President of Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria, Richard Mammah, Director of National Library of Nigeria, Lagos Office, Mrs. Obianuju Onuorah, Director at the Copyright Commission, Lagos Office, Linda Alphaeus, Dorothy Mkparu, author and educational consultant, Ifeoluwa Aduradola, Founder of Onkawe Book Club, Oluwaseyi Oke and Principal Consultant, Belteros Consulting.

They spoke extensively on how to promote multilingual as it has many advantages. The host Falayi read to her guests from one of her books Sam Goes to College to mark this year’s International Literacy Day. Two workshop sessions were conducted by Direcor of Talent Plus Resources International, Aderonke Fateye K-Eseka and the President of RealOne Art Studio, Rilwan Adebayo.

Students from invited schools made presentations on different languages and provided their interpretation. The guests were in awed as some young students displayed proficiency in three or more languages. Another highlight of the event was when everyone was asked to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) for three minutes. Participants picked a book each and read simultaneously for three minutes. The event was brought to a close with an interesting segment, where winners of Foluke Sijuwola Falayi Literacy Day Writing Award were presented with certificates and gifts.