Abstract: The present study is an empirical endeavour on the perception of Yoruba Muslims on Arabic as a factor in social integration in South-western Nigeria. Many centuries of Islam’s presence in the region has shown the major roles played by the language, not just as a vehicle for the dissemination of Islamic messages but also as a means of self-actualization by forming the first literate elite in pre-colonial Nigeria. Muslims in this region have been witnessing a continuous decline in the enrolment of students into the modern Arabic Schools for some years now. This situation provides a ground for an inquiry on whether there is a possible link between the future career prospect for the language and the dearth in the enrolment of candidates into those schools. Two hundred samples were drawn from four of the six local governments that comprise the zone for data collection and were analysed in simple percentage. Findings show that although many factors account for the decline in pupils enrolment in those schools, the fear of making success out of their career as Arabists is loud. The researchers recommend among others that (i) the present curriculum of those schools should be reviewed to allow for integration of Western Education into Arabic Education System, and (ii) the learning environment of the modern Arabic Schools should be made more conducive to learning so as to make them attractive to students and competitive with the Western-oriented schools.
Keywords: perception, Yoruba, Muslims, Arabic, acquisition, career, south western, nigeria
Title: Perception of Yoruba Muslims on Arabic as a Factor in Social Integration in South-Western Nigeria
Author: Biodun I. Toyib, Abdul Fatai M. Hassan
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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