Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has urged Nigerians to take pride in their mother tongues, describing it as a priceless cultural treasure that should be preserved and celebrated.
Soludo, also the Founder of Healthy Living Initiative, made the call 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 Feb. 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 tongue 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.
Soludo noted that indigenous languages were gradually disappearing because they were not sufficiently celebrated and 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.
