Nigeria Indigenous Languages Will Not Go Into Extinction, Anunobi, National Librarian Vows

The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Professor Chinwe Anunobi has charged stakeholders to ensure that the over 600 indigenous languages spoken in various parts of the country do not go into extinction.

Anunobi who spoke in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2024 International Mother-Tongue Day, vowed to ensure that the languages are preserved like the other aspects of Nigerian culture.

She maintained that there was the need to take practical steps towards the global quest for the revitalisation, preservation and promotion of the world’s indigenous languages needed to avert their speedy disappearance.

She disclosed that one of the things that the National Library of Nigeria is doing to preserve the indigenous languages is the creation of the Nigerian Language Map, noting that the process has commenced with engagement of communities in all the states of the Federation.

She recalled that arising from the concern that at least one language dies every two weeks, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1999 designated the 21st of February every year as mother language day.

“Furthermore, the United Nations leveraged and expanded on that by designating the period 2022 – 2032 as the International Decade for Indigenous Languages with a view to revitalise, protect, preserve and promote indigenous languages for sustainable development .

“Consequently, four major outcomes are expected from these global engagements: learn, teach and transmit; establish a global priority and foster commitment by all stakeholders; ensure legal recognition of indigenous languages by member states; and provide an enabling environment to enhance functional usage of  indigenous languages,” she said.

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Anunobi, while reiterating the full commitment of Nigeria to these outcomes, said this explains why the Federal Ministry of Education directed that children should be taught in basic schools using the language of their communities.

She said: “While Nigeria, like other UN member states continues the push for reinvigoration and deepening of the preservation of our indigenous language, the theme for this year’s celebration ‘Multilingual Education is A Pillar of Learning and Inter-generational Learning’ is germane to Nigerian efforts where basic schools are taught in indigenous language as well as the National Library activities are centrally positioned as heritage institution that must preserve these languages for intergenerational education”.

According to UNESCO, the exclusive use of dominant language in Nigeria including English for instruction has affected the quality of teaching and impacted the validity of learning assessments and by extension, the learner’s future opportunities for education and work.

The UN agency also tied poor learning outcomes in schools to inadequate language of instruction policies.

Anunobi, therefore, said the theme for this year was a call for all stakeholders, and practically everyone, to appreciate that multilingual education enhances learning when the language of instruction is the learner’s first language.

She said to quote UNESCO verbatim; “it says the use of learners’ own languages for literacy and learning provides a solid pillar for education, and for transfer of skills and knowledge to additional languages.

Learning in one’s first language facilitates understanding and interaction, and further develops critical thinking. It strengthens self-confidence and self-esteem and stimulates active participation.

“In addition to boosting learning, multilingual education contributes to opening the doors to intergenerational learning, the preservation of culture and intangible heritage, and the revitalization of languages”.

The National Librarian added, “National Library is unrelenting in ensuring the realization of the decade’s focus. Therefore, today’s celebration provides another window to demonstrate our commitment.

“Hence we have engaged communities in all the states of the Federation to collate and create what we refer to as, the Nigerian Language Map. This is not just the map of Nigeria, but much more as it contains the languages spoken in each state.This Map will be printed and placed in our reading halls, as a reference material in all our state branches.

“In addition to that, we are working as we speak, on a compendium of the alphabets and numerals of our indigenous languages. We consider this as the very first and critical step towards the preservation of our languages,” she said.

She directed that the celebration be observed in all the 33 branches of the National Library, reminding everyone that when one’s language goes into extinction, it is the culture that has gone into extinction for the language of each culture is the prime feature of that culture.