Today is the World Speech Day (WSD), 2024, with a theme: “Speech for Better World”.
WSD is a celebration day for all Nigerians and other people of the world. First, in 2015, Simon Gibson founded WSD at Athens Democracy Forum to celebrate free speech, public speaking and public speakers. In 2016, WSD was inaugurated and first celebrated at Athens and Singapore. In 2020, the number of the countries celebrating WSD grew to over one hundred. As a result of this milestone, Facebookers and YouTubers started live streaming it.
World Speech Day is a celebration day for all Nigerians. Prior to 1960 that we have not officially gained independence, there were series of speeches delivered by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc in the Britain, some African countries and above all here in Nigeria during processions, in the media and during campaigns all in a bid to free Nigeria from the shackles of colonial masters.
Sheikh Uthman Danfodio reformed Islam in the northern Nigeria not because he was the most pious or educated person. Nor was it because he was the most fearless warrior but largely, if not solely, because he was a very persuasive speaker. The same is true of Malam Aminu Kano who won the Kano East Constituency election for the federal legislature in the First Republic. Likewise, in 1979, his party PRP won the Kano and Kaduna gubernatorial seats with landslide victory.
As we are black and Africans, so also is Barrack Obama who originally is from Kenya. In consequence of this, Obama’s political victory affects us. Obama became the first black African American President, according to analysts, because he could speak persuasively to the audience.
Teaching is a form of speech, falling under informative public speaking. This is to say, all educated people are educated because teachers taught them. Imagine the world without teachers! Will there be medical doctors who take care of our health, engineers who design and make cars for us, pilots who fly us, military and other security personnel who secure us, bankers who keep and manage our money or even journalists who hunt for news professionally and inform us? Will there be all these personalities and many more?
Whatever religion you follow, the religion reached you through public speakers who are God’s agent. They used largely informative and persuasive public speaking to extend the religion to people. Also, you know how to worship the God through public speakers who teach you at schools the performance of the religion, as prescribed by God and his messenger.
Looking at how public speaking is responsible for the independence of Nigeria, reformation of Islam in northern Nigeria, teaching northerners (of that time), resistance to bad governance, an African becoming president of the almighty America. Additionally, considering how public speaking is responsible for the amenities of life and peace we enjoy, etcetera, it is not bad to conclude that the World Speech Day is worth celebrating every year by all of us at our distinct capacities. In a way, celebrating the day is celebrating all the public speakers responsible for the civilized world we are all proud of now.
Mr Imam, a public speaking coach, writes from Kano
