Approval Marks Major Victory For Owan Language Preservation
The Edo State Ministry of Education has officially approved “Owan Language Studies: A Step-by-Step Approach” for use in schools, marking a major milestone in the promotion and preservation of the Owan language.
The approval makes the publication the first Owan language textbook to receive official approval from the Edo State Ministry of Education for classroom use.
The development has been described as a historic breakthrough for the Owan people, with many stakeholders saying it represents a significant step towards protecting the language and ensuring it is passed on to future generations through formal education.
Supporters of the initiative said the approval is not only an educational achievement but also a victory for the cultural identity and heritage of the Owan people. They noted that teaching indigenous languages in schools is one of the most effective ways of preserving them for future generations.
Following the approval, schools across Owan have been encouraged to adopt the book as a recommended instructional material for teaching the Owan language. Community leaders, philanthropists, alumni associations, corporate organisations and development groups have also been called upon to support the purchase and distribution of the books to public and private schools.
Advocates believe that making the textbooks available to pupils will strengthen the teaching of the Owan language, promote literacy in the mother tongue and help preserve one of Edo State’s important cultural heritages.
The approval is expected to boost efforts aimed at ensuring that the Owan language is not only spoken within communities but also taught in classrooms, documented in educational materials and sustained for generations to come.
