Nigeria: NICO inspires indigenous language usage

[Harold Schiffman]

NICO inspires indigenous language usage
• Sunday, Aug 31, 2008

In his welcome address, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National
Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, said his ministry was not
unaware of the conscious role of language in development, thus the
National Policy for Culture (2008) which is before the Federal
Executive Council gave priorities to language. He said the policy
would Indentify various languages and dialects as well as conduct
ethnic mapping and recording of our ethnic configuration.

"It is our resolve to expand the scope of the language programme to
cover the six geo- political zones, and in 2009 this programme would
be organized in the six zonal offices of NICO," he assured. A Director
in the Bureau for Public Service reforms, Antonia Ekpa spoke
passionately on language and national development, advocating for a
working relationship between her bureau and NICO to seek ways both
agencies could use indigenous languages in the ongoing reforms in the
public sector.

To her, some of the other ways required are the active involvement of
youths, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and having Indigenous
language learning centres in all the states of the federation.
However, while everyone spoke on the need for improved use of
indigenous languages, no one spoke in any of the indigenous languages
except the Yoruba version of the national anthem that was sung at the
venue.

Interestingly, the drama staged at the opening ceremony with the use
of phrases from Nigerian languages suggested the inclusion of
knowledge of at least one indigenous language as criteria for
employment. How many Nigerians would be eligible for employment and
how many would rush to learn another language? That is one question
NICO will hope to answer as the programme continues.

http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=08/31/2008&qrTitle=NICO%20inspires%20indigenous%20language%20usage&qrColumn=CULTURESCOPE

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