A Sequel To The Fast Growing Rate Of Scholarship In The North -By Omar Muaz

Although it is a challenge from my friend who is a linguist, to write a sequel to the fast-growing rate of scholarship in the North, it interests me to write on paper on why non-Northerners should be frightened of our development in the English language. Southerners surprise whenever they, by any chance, meet a Northerner who speaks good English. Halimah MD Sa’ad, who happens to be more eloquent than Felecia Hatcher—the White House Award-Winning Motivational Speaker and Author—was once a victim.

As demystified in the first segment of the piece, Western education first got a room in the South, East, and West for over a hundred years before it reached North. I am heedless to whatever reason that delayed its move. Nevertheless, Hausa adage has it that; “Wanda ya rigaka bacci, zai rigaka tashi (He who sleeps earlier, wakes up first).” So, it is fair that English treated Westerners kinder than the Northerners in the past years.

However, when last have you heard of a Southerner who became an icon, worthy of emulation and parroting when it comes to English fluency or oratory? To answer this question, one needs to dig out their past heroes whose glories are nowhere to be sighted today just like Game Of Thrones [GOT] before the release of Money Heist season four. Simply because I nodded over the fact that English was so easy on their tongues doesn’t mean they were at all times ahead of us—the Northerners. Eloquent personalities like the former prime minister, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and Sardauna of Sokoto, Late Ahmadu Bello were uncatchable to the verge that Europeans bowed to them.

Furthermore, there is a turnaround as far as the North is concerned. Northerners are now shunning any sorts of trifling acts in secondary schools as well as universities. In English and Literary competitions, when Northerners face Southerners, they beat them with wide margins. For instance; in the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Essay Competition 2019, a Northerner who was born in Kano, Mujahid Ameen Lilo, emerged the winner. From the last decade hitherto, we have been espying a great change in the Northerners more especially when it comes to English-Speaking competitions. Meanwhile, there are improvements.

In universities, Northern students top departments of English and Literary Studies. The goodness in us is no more sightless just like a palm never hues a sun when it rises. Therefore to override, the Southern pidgin speakers are becoming easier from all the angles to have sniped.

Omar Muaz