For any nation to develop technologically, its people must first understand the principles of science. Yet across Africa, science education is delivered in the English language that many students do not speak fluently at home. This creates a barrier: students struggle not from lack of intelligence, but because they learn in a foreign tongue. Teaching science in mother tongues removes this barrier, allowing students to engage deeply and see science as something that belongs to them.
UNESCO’s Education 2030 Framework for Action explicitly encourages mother-tongue education as key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4—inclusive, equitable quality education. The framework stresses that the 2030 Agenda cannot be achieved unless every group has equal access to education, and it calls for bilingual and intercultural literacy programmes to meet target 4.6 (universal literacy). Yet 40% of the global population lacks education in a language they understand, underscoring the urgency of initiatives like Nigeria’s Biology in Yoruba project.
Launched in 2018 by Moshood A. Abiola and Samuel A. Waldorf, the Baoloji ni Yoruba radio programme was the first science broadcast in Yoruba. It has grown into a seven‐year research effort, training over 500 teachers and reaching over 100,000 students directly and indirectly via radio, workshops, social media, and classrooms. The radio show alone has brought biological knowledge to more than one million listeners, including non‑science students, parents, traders, and farmers—making science a community conversation.
The impact is measurable. Student test scores improved by 35%, and participants showed greater confidence. Many have successfully prepared for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations. One shy student, who explained ecology confidently on air, surprised her grandmother, who had never seen her so enthusiastic about school. The initiative’s Ìmọ̀ Ẹ̀dá pedagogy workshops have equipped teachers with bilingual skills, and volunteer hours total over 560, reflecting community belief in the approach.
The culmination is the textbook ‘Bàọ́lọ́jì ní Yorùbá’ (full subtitle: Ìwé Ẹ̀kọ́ Ìsẹ̀mí fún Àwọn Akẹ́kọ́ọ̀ àti Olùkọ́), now available at ₦5,000 per copy. It covers cells, photosynthesis, human anatomy, and microorganisms in clear Yoruba, building on earlier bilingual materials and multimedia content. The team states: “To the glory of God Almighty, after seven years of extensive scientific research, our book is finally available for purchase.”
This initiative offers a blueprint for technological development: remove language barriers, train teachers, use multiple platforms, and engage communities. When students learn science in their mother tongue, they do not just memorise; they question, innovate, and build.
That is how nations develop. As UNESCO envisions for 2030, literacy and quality education become achievable when language is no longer a wall. The Biology in Yoruba project proves it works, reaching over a million listeners and producing exam‑ready students. It is a model for Nigeria and beyond. Copies can be obtained by calling or chatting 08058469573.
