Abstract
Many researchers had confirmed that mother tongue education will enhance the acquisition of second
language of a child. Efforts were made to promote the learning of mother tongue or language of
immediate environment. In the recent time USAID organised a program for reading in the three major
Nigeria languages which was supported by some of the stakeholders. In spite of all efforts to promote
reading, there is need to introduce a strategy that will enhance the effective learning of reading, which
is Yoruba verbal aptitude reasoning. Since the use of verbal aptitude reasoning starts from early grade
level and through to advanced level at different stages in life; for academics, employment, and
immigration in test of English such as TOEFL, IELTS, and GRE, etc. This study seeks to introduce Yoruba verbal aptitude reasoning for elementary level of education to boost the literacy skills of pupils
in Yoruba language which will eventually enhance the acquisition of literacy skills of English language
and the various advanced verbal aptitude reasoning test in future. The study highlighted the suggested
contents for Yoruba verbal aptitude reasoning for pre and primary school pupils. The importance of
Yoruba verbal aptitude reasoning and learning method were also explored. Recommendations were made the Yoruba scrabble be introduced, children be advised to play the language puzzle games both
in school and at home. Children should read Yoruba texts extensively, watch Yoruba films and news to
enrich their vocabulary banks in order to have a grasp of Yoruba literacy skills through Yoruba verbal
aptitude reasoning. Also, stake holders should embrace the introduction of Verbal aptitude reasoning
for the three Nigerian languages.

Introduction
Verbal aptitude encompasses the ability of a student to spell words correctly, use correct grammar, understand word meanings, understand word relationships and interpret detailed written information. Andrew, Cobb and Giampietro (2005) noted that verbal ability (or aptitude) is when a person is skilled at putting ideas into words, both in oral and written forms. Verbal aptitude facilitates the interpretation
of information in a logical and analytical manner. Such ability helps in organizing words coherently (Andrew et al, 2005). Some of the reasons why students fail examinations could be due to the inability to frame responses to questions and spell words correctly. Obe (1996) listed weakness in comprehension and the inability of students to express themselves, among others, as factors responsible for mass failure in examinations.
Recently, USAID (2021) presented to the Lagos state government series of published books tagged Hausa – Ma karanta, Igbo – Ka anyiguo, Yoruba – ‘‘Je ka kawe” meaning Let us read. The stake holders explained that the program will move a long way in improving Yoruba language literacy skills among primary school pupils. It was a worthwhile program for sustaining literacy development in the three major Nigerian languages. Also, Federal government in NPE (2013), realising the importance of mother tongue
designed the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction at the lower level of education, all in an attempt to promote active learners involvement, comprehension and critical thinking through the medium of instruction which ensure learners’ reasoning skills necessary for all readers. The skills are phonemics awareness, phonics, fluency, Synonyms and antonyms, simile, vocabulary and logical reasoning and comprehension.
Fafunwa (1975) established that the use
of mother tongue to teach children would enhance
the reading skill of pupils and they would be able
to transfer the knowledge acquired through MT
education into learning of other languages and
other subjects which will eventually help in
achieving a lifelong learning which is included in
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In spite
of all the efforts of the USAID, SUBEB and Lagos
state government, NERDC on Early Grade
Reading (EGR), one germane initiative that can
boost all initiatives of language literacy of pupils
which has not been attended to. It is the
introduction of Yoruba verbal aptitude reasoning.
This could serve as a complement to all the efforts
on Yoruba language teaching and learning.
Researches had shown that there are no
alternatives to the child’s mother tongue for
effective learning to take place. Olopade (2009),
Fafunwa (2009) affirmed that with the use of
mother tongue education, the complex ideas might
just be easier to grasp and the understanding of the
same idea in a second language is generally at par
with that of the mother tongue. Also, Owolabi
(2008) summarised the Ife six-year primary
project in January, 1970 as a convincing success
and proof that the use of indigenous languages or
mother tongues is the best medium of instruction