Pentouch 
After a successful trial run of “Egbeje Ede” school competition in Ile Ife one of the organizers Adetola Balogun has said that it was organized to promote Yoruba language and healthy competition amongst colleges in Nigeria.
Balogun said it was hosted in Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation because the Ooni of Ife agreed to host it in his palace.
He said”Yoruba have been complaining that the language is on the verge of extinction if we don’t do something about it. Creating a competition around the board that we had patented years ago, and the royal support from Kabiyesi have both happened at the same time to make our dreams come true”.
During the competition representatives of Gracefield College, Akinremi Testimony came first, while Iyanda Yakub was second. Kazeem Balqees of Shepherd Hill Model College was third. Seven schools participated in the competition.
Speaking at the event His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, represented by, Soko Kemade Eligbaju, the Ooni of Ife, emphasized the need for Yoruba to promote Yoruba language at every sphere of life wherever they find themselves.
Also, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdul Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje, Bamigboye II, the Olupo of Oluponna; a special guest at the event, called on all Yoruba descendant home and abroad, to teach their children Yoruba language and ensure it is spoken in their homes. He urged parents and teachers to teach the younger ones the Omoluabi virtues of the Yoruba.
Another guest at the school competition, Professor Ajibade Olusola of Yoruba Language, Literature, and Culture at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, called on education policy makers to strengthen the Yoruba language through formulated policies that will make it an integral part of academic works.
Ajibade advised the elite to stop looking down on Yoruba language and change their erroneous perception that if a child speaks Yoruba at a tender age he or she will not understand English Language.
The organisers expressed their gratitude to Governor Ademola Adeleke for his support to the education sector in the state.
In separate goodwill messages from the commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Murtala Kehinde Jimoh, and the Local Education Inspector, Ife Central Local Government, Mr Adesoji Ezekiel Adeniran, all expressed their support for the ingenious idea that aims to further help develop the use of Yoruba language.
Mr Taiwo and Adetola Balogun, creators of Egbeje Ede board, are thankful to the trio for their support and approval of the inter-school competition in Osun State.
