Centre decries lack of uniformity in Yoruba orthography

• Sets up committee to standardise Yoruba language
• Partners DAWN Commission, Wikimedia, scholars

The International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture in Ibadan has decried lack of uniformity and standardisation in Yoruba orthography among various users and speakers.

The Centre has, therefore, in partnership with Wikimedia, set up a committee to standardise Yoruba orthography with a mandate to examine and harmonise the current orthography.

The committee comprises scholars in Yoruba Language, Editors of Yoruba books, the Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria, Association of Yoruba Language Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Nigeria, Association of Yoruba Language Teachers and Culture in Nigeria, Association of Nigerian Publishers and Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Association and others.

According to a communiqué signed and made available to The Guardian by Chairman, Supervisory Committee of the project, Dr Alao Adedayo and Secretary, Dr Aderemi Fajenyo, the committee would put machinery in motion to achieve the set goal.

Meanwhile, at a meeting held at the University of Ibadan, three sub-committees were set up to work out modalities on how to achieve the aims of the main committee. The sub-committees are International Mother Tongue Committee, Essay Competition Committee and Orthography Committee.

There would be a three-day programme for the project with the participants arriving on February 19, 2024, while the group will be inaugurated on February 20, 2024, with a seminar on February 21, 2024 to commemorate International Mother Tongue Day.