Nigeria's Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has called for stronger commitment to the preservation of indigenous languages, describing them as essential to protecting the country's cultural identity and knowledge systems, as he joined academics, traditional leaders, and literary stakeholders at the Lagos launch of a new Yoruba language publication on Friday.

The event, held at Moonstone Hall, Ikeja, marked the unveiling of Yoruba: A Tonal Language Homophones, a new work by author and linguist Bankole Olusiji Awosika that examines the tonal structure and linguistic richness of the Yoruba language, covering homophones, pronunciation, vowels, consonants, and the cultural philosophy embedded in Yoruba expression.

Alausa described the book as a timely contribution to Nigeria's educational and cultural development. "The preservation of our indigenous languages is not merely about communication; it is about preserving history, identity, knowledge systems, and our collective heritage. Publications like this deserve to be encouraged because they bridge education and culture in a meaningful way," he stated.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Bopo Oyekan Ismaila, also commended the publication, noting that books documenting indigenous languages remain valuable educational resources capable of inspiring younger generations to embrace their cultural heritage.

Representing the Awosika family, Akinyinka Awosika thanked guests for their support and expressed hope that the book would become an important resource for schools, researchers, cultural institutions, and language learners both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

The ceremony drew academics, education stakeholders, traditional leaders, students, language enthusiasts, and members of the literary community, and featured literary reflections, goodwill messages, and cultural performances celebrating Yoruba traditions.

Participants renewed calls for greater investment in indigenous language preservation, stressing that local languages remain central to cultural identity, education, and national heritage.

With the publication, Awosika adds another contribution to the documentation and preservation of one of Africa's most widely spoken indigenous languages.