Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has stated the need to understand one’s culture, saying that this was crucial because it serves as a bridge to self-discovery and empowerment.
The deputy governor made this call on Sunday at the Prayer and Dedication of New Egbe Chieftaincy Palace, Lagos Island, adding that culture allowed people to unlock their full potential and proudly embrace their identity as Africans.
According to him, it is equally important for the people to understand their culture and language, and make it “be known to our children” so that it won’t go into extinction.
“There are certain things you can’t translate into English. We need to let our language be known to our children. Let our children understand that is who we are. We are not Western people. We are Africans and therefore our African culture, our African language must be pre-eminent,” he said.
Hamzat, however, stated that the Lagos State government had embarked on various programmes and policies to preserve the culture, language, and tradition of the people and ensure that they were passed on to the coming generations.
“We found out that a lot of our children can’t even speak our language. I think that if you don’t understand yourself if you don’t know yourself, it is a loss.
“In Lagos, we are doing a lot of culture teaching and I encourage others, Igbo, Hausa, let our languages be known, and let our children understand that is, who we are,” he concluded.
On the new Chieftaincy Palace, the deputy governor said it was regeneration and redevelopment from what it used to be to what it had been developed to.
Hamzat stressed that regeneration was necessary in the country due to increase in population and, therefore, the need for people to live in a proper and good environment.
“Regeneration as we all know is important and as we are regenerating, we are improving the lives of our children for a better tomorrow,” he said.
The Egbe of Lagos, Chief Rafui Abayomi Olusi, in his remark, said the significance of the project was to provide a meeting point for the Egbe sons and daughters at home and abroad, provide accommodations for the local population, and promote mutual understanding among them.
He described the deputy governor’s presence at the event as a homecoming being an offspring of the Egbe Chieftaincy Family.
In his word of exhortation, Imam Moshood Sanusi urged leaders and people in positions to serve with the fear of God, noting that there was no one greater than Allah.
According to Imam Sanusi, the fear of God is important to govern a nation to greatness, adding that there was need for people “to honour God because whoever honours him shall be honoured.”
“We need to honour God because whoever honours him shall be honoured. No man is in a position because of his knowledge or understanding but by the grace of Allah that has chosen him or her to be there. It is, therefore, important for people in positions or leaders to serve with the fear of God and be fair to humanity,” he admonished.
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