The State of English in Nigeria

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, recently made a statement about the importance of learning and teaching English in the country. This statement was made during the unveiling of the N68 billion Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The centre, which was rebuilt by the Committee of Bankers of Nigeria, is now a state-of-the-art facility that can be compared to any other theatre in the world.

The Unveiling of the Wole Soyinka Centre

The unveiling took place on October 1, 2025, and was attended by many prominent Nigerians, including the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu. The event was part of the celebrations marking Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, was the coordinator of the project.

The State of English in Nigeria: A Concern

In a lecture delivered at the University of Lagos in 2019, I warned about the declining state of English in Nigeria. The lecture, titled "The English Language in Nigeria as Discourses of Life and Death," highlighted the poor use of English by many Nigerians, including its teachers. The death of the English language in Nigeria may not be immediately noticeable due to the country’s large population, but its effects are already being felt.

The Use of English by Nigerian Leaders

During the independence celebrations, several Nigerian leaders made statements that highlighted the importance of English in the country. However, some of these statements also revealed a lack of understanding of the language. For example, the President of the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Festus Osifo, described the management of his association as "intellectual." However, his actions and words during a television interview revealed a lack of intellectualism and objectivity.

The Importance of Intellectualism

Intellectualism is rooted in objectivity, logic, and empiricism. It involves the use of scientific and mathematical principles to analyze situations and make informed decisions. In the case of Mr Osifo, his decision to embark on a strike without exploring dialogue was not intellectual. It was also not in the best interest of the country, as it would have led to fuel scarcity and disrupted the independence celebrations.

The Role of Dialogue in Conflict Resolution

Dialogue is an essential tool for conflict resolution. It involves the use of logical and empirical arguments to resolve disputes. In the case of PENGASSAN, dialogue could have been used to resolve the issue of the sacked workers without resorting to a strike. The National Assembly should amend the laws to reduce the incidence of strikes and encourage dialogue in conflict resolution.

The Use of English by Nigerian Leaders: A Case Study

During the unveiling of the Wole Soyinka Centre, several Nigerian leaders made statements that highlighted their use of English. For example, Professor Wole Soyinka spoke excellently well, as usual, and his comment about the President conspiring with others to name the theatre after him was notable. The President’s response, which described Soyinka as Nigeria’s greatest asset to the world, was also noteworthy.

The Use of Nominalised Modal Expression

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, used a nominalised modal expression during his speech, which was novel to me. The expression "Might I add" is rare in Nigeria, and its use was a pleasant surprise. However, its negative form, "Mightn’t I add," could also be used in certain situations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the English language is an essential tool for communication in Nigeria. Our leaders should learn and re-learn the language regularly to communicate effectively with Nigerians and the rest of the world. The language may not die in Nigeria if our leaders take the necessary steps to promote its use and teaching. As a professor of English and Linguistics, I believe that it is essential to promote the use of English in Nigeria to ensure that the country remains a major player in the global community.