<div dir="ltr"><h1>Nigerian Languages Are In Danger- Association Cries Out</h1>
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February 26, 2014 - 5:32am
| By <a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/author/ugochukwu-onyeocha" rel="foaf:publications" content="Ugochukwu Onyeocha">Ugochukwu Onyeocha</a>
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<img src="http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/sites/default/files/imagecache/400xY/Chinyere-Ohiri-Aniche.jpg" alt="Prof. Chinyere Ohiri- Aniche" title="Prof. Chinyere Ohiri- Aniche" class="" height="196" width="400"> <div class="">
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<p>The President of Linguistic
Association of Nigeria (LAN), Prof. Chinyere Ohiri- Aniche, on Tuesday
in Abuja, said about 400 Nigerian indigenous languages are currently
endangered.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Ohiri-Aniche made the disclosure at the UNESCO International Mother
Language Day Celebration organised by the Ministry of Education in
collaboration with LAN entitled; "Local Languages for Global
Citizenship: Spotlight on Science.''</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She said the languages were endangered due to past neglect and
denigration, adding that some languages had already become extinct,
while 152 languages were on the verge of being extinct.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "Our greater concern however is that our languages are not being handed over to children in homes and schools.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "Researches show that on the average, 25 per cent of children below
11 years are unable to speak their parent's indigenous language.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "If this trend is not checked, then Nigerian languages will be in
extinction in two to three generations, that is in 50 to 75 years
time.''</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She called on stakeholders, schools, telecommunication agencies,
media establishments, UNESCO and other international organisations to
take drastic actions to prevent the death of indigenous Nigerian mother
tongues.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> According to her, parents must learn to speak to their children in the indigenous language.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She also called on schools to ensure that every child was taught his
or her mother tongue in primary and secondary schools as prescribed in
the National Policy on Education since 1977.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Ohiri-Aniche said that the Ministry of Education and the Nigeria
Educational Research and Development Council should reinstate Nigerian
languages as core subjects in the senior secondary school curriculum.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She said that the federal and states ministries of culture and
national orientation should also promote entertainment and other
cultural activities in Nigerian languages.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> The LAN president urged the National Assembly and state houses of
assembly and other stakeholders to urgently convene a National Language
Policy Summit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> The summit, she noted, would provide a forum where Nigerians would
decide if indigenous languages should be allowed to die or be
safeguarded.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "The summit will also lead to the enactment of a comprehensive national language policy for Nigeria,'' she added.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Ohiri-Aniche said that the association believed that with the right
political and popular will, Nigerian languages would be pulled back from
the brink of extinction.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "They will go on to regain their vibrancy and once more, play their
rightful roles in all aspects of our individual and collective lives,
right into the 22nd century,'' she said.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She commended UNESCO for exposing the challanges facing Nigerian indigenous languages.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Hassana Halidu, the Regional Representative of UNESCO, said the
celebration of the day was important in order to educate Nigerians on
the use of mother tongue.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Halidu urged the Federal Government to revitalise the use of
indigenous languages in schools as a way of creating peace and harmony
in the country.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> She said UNESCO would be partnering with the ministry and other
stakeholders to revitalise the use of indigenous languages in the
country.</p><p><a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/nigerian-languages-are-danger-association-cries-out">http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/nigerian-languages-are-danger-association-cries-out</a><br></p><br clear="all">
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