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Claim: A verified Facebook user posted a narrative that northern governors have rejected English as the language of instruction in schools in Northern Nigeria.
Verdict: False. Although one of the Northern governors urged the consideration of Hausa as a medium of instruction in schools, it only represents his opinion and not a declaration.
Full Text
Language has always been a defining element of Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscape. Before colonial rule, indigenous languages such as Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo dominated communication and education within various communities. However, the arrival of the British introduced English as the official language. This was gradually embedded into the country’s constitution and the education system.
Over time, English became the primary medium of instruction in schools, serving as a unifying language in a multilingual country and a key requirement for academic and professional advancement.
Despite this, Nigerian schools also recognise the importance of indigenous languages. Many states, including those in the North, incorporate local languages into their curricula, especially at the primary level, to promote cultural preservation and facilitate learning for young students.
Against this backdrop, a Facebook user @ChukwudiUfondu shared a post stating: “Northern governors reject English language as an instruction medium in Northern schools!”
The post, published on Jan. 23, 2024, at 8:19 a.m., sparked conversations among users, many of whom opposed the statement.
@Et GoodluckOghenehro, disagreeing with the claim, responded:
“This is an absolute aberration of the so-called loyalty of these governors to this nation. The official language of this country is English, so why should they even devise such an ill-conceived concept and law?”
Another user, @EbeleOnwuagha, questioned: “How will they write WAEC and JAMB?”
Adding a different perspective, @OmeniJem commented: “But they want everyone to be speaking Hausa before they employ them.”
Although the post did not generate significant engagement, DUBAWA investigated its accuracy because of its ambiguous and controversial nature.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google keyword search, which led to reports from Punch and Daily Trust discussing the position of Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago on the language of instruction in Northern schools.
According to a report from Daily Trust, Governor Bago urged his colleagues in the northern states to review the education curriculum and adopt Hausa as the language of teaching in the region. He argued that English should only be taught as a subject in primary and secondary schools but not as the language of instruction.
The report further stated that Bago made this statement at the National Literary Colloquium held in Minna to celebrate the 60th birthday of literary icon BM Dzukogi, the founder of the Hilltop Arts Foundation.
He emphasised that if adopting Hausa as a regional teaching language would increase enrollment and enhance students’ understanding, northern governors should consider it to reduce the region’s high rate of out-of-school children.
According to Daily Trust, Bago also urged parents to equip their children with books and other reading materials to develop their critical thinking skills. He highlighted that promoting a reading culture is one of the best ways to protect future generations from societal decline. He revealed that his administration plans to merge some schools to introduce vocational training, promoting academic and skill-based learning.
Aside from this finding, no official statement or policy indicates that northern governors have collectively rejected English as the language of school instruction.
Conclusion
While the report shows that Governor Bago of Niger State has advocated for Hausa as the medium of instruction in Northern schools, there is no evidence of a collective decision by all Northern governors to reject English as the language of instruction in schools in Nigeria.
