China government has published its first Yoruba textbook, titled “Ede Yoruba,” as the Asian nation starts teaching the Nigerian tongue.
Nigeria’s three major ethnic groupings are Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba.
Goke Alamu, a lecturer at Ekiti State University (EKSU), announced in a statement on Thursday that he had received an invitation to China to teach the language in 2020.
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Alamu claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak prevented him from travelling, but he began teaching online courses for Beijing Foreign Studies University students in China alongside three US academics.
The professor said the first Yoruba textbook for students in the Asian country was published after approval from the government.
“Just produced in China. I am just very happy because this is the first Yoruba textbook in China,” he said.
“I was contacted by the Beijing Foreign Studies University around 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis to come to China and set up a Yoruba programme for them.
“I could have been in China since then but for the lockdown. So, I started online teaching for their students after writing the syllabus and the approval.
“Later, the university got approval from the government and a publishing company was approved for the publication of the first Yoruba textbook for students.
“I worked with three professors who had the opportunity to study the language in the US. This is the product of our efforts after three years. I will be going to China in September to test-run the book.
“I have two students already at the University of Ibadan who would be trained and take over from me. I have taught them for 2 years online, but they are now here to feel the culture of us and improve their proficiency.”
