Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has raised alarm over the growing number of children unable to speak their native languages, describing the situation as a cultural failure that must be urgently corrected.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Edochie expressed particular concern about Igbo families, noting that many children of Igbo heritage cannot communicate fluently in the language due to neglect by their parents.
“Many of us who are Igbos, our children cannot speak Igbo. It’s a failure on our part that must be corrected moving forward,” he wrote.
The actor’s remarks have sparked debate on social media, with some Nigerians agreeing that parents must take responsibility for preserving indigenous languages. Others, however, argued that the dominance of English in schools, workplaces, and daily interactions has made it more difficult for children to prioritize their mother tongue.
Edochie, who has long advocated for cultural revival, also urged the Igbo community to embrace Omenaani (traditional customs), describing ancestors as “guardian angels” and stressing the need to return to cultural roots for identity and continuity.
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