Educationists have urged schools and parents across the country to intensify efforts toward exposing children to foreign languages and cultural diversity, noting that early immersion prepares them for global opportunities and strengthens social cohesion.
They also stressed that sustained exposure to global cultures and languages will help Nigerian children thrive in the interconnected world.
The experts spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a continental exhibition held at Great Standard Montessori Model School.
The proprietress, Mrs Nofisat Akingbade, stressed that exposing children to multiple cultures teaches tolerance and respect.
She noted that the initiative was designed to take children beyond the regular curriculum and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
The school head explained that the exhibition, which featured art, crafts and presentations from different countries across various continents, is now a yearly tradition.
“We have different languages, cultures and meals. As such, we need to respect people for who they truly represent,” she added.
She called on the government to strengthen cultural and global awareness programmes in basic education. “It is already happening in schools, but I want full implementation and proper supervision so it can go around,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Olusoji Ajao, CEO of Afrocentric Masterclass and one of the external graders, described the exhibition as “the best” approach to modern learning.
Ajao emphasised that learning foreign languages at an early age is crucial for future relevance, adding that the project exposes children to immersive, practical knowledge far beyond memorisation.
He noted that China’s global influence makes Mandarin an essential skill, adding that schools should consider including it alongside French.
“Some of them were speaking Chinese. This is the future. You can’t speak Chinese and be a looker, the job is already waiting for you. Everything we are getting is from China. If we are grooming children, Chinese is the next language that can help them,” he said.
On government policy, Ajao called for stronger adoption of project-based and experiential learning, saying, “We don’t need to memorize anything. Audiovisual learning makes it part of their subconscious. They become more open and accommodating.”