NICO empowers over 1,000 Nigerians by training them in indigenous languages, supporting the preservation of Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.
Over 1,000 Nigerians have been trained by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in its August installment of their complimentary Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP).
During the closing ceremony of the programme in Abuja, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye – Executive Secretary of NICO – revealed that it was implemented not only in Abuja and Lagos but also across all six geopolitical zonal offices.
Ajiboye mentioned that the program was introduced as a response to the worrying state of languages on a global scale.
He stated that the purpose of our Indigenous languages is to raise awareness about the importance of speaking them and advance Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy goals.
He states that numerous languages are on the verge of becoming extinct around the world, causing concern that over 50% of an estimated 6,900 global languages will disappear by next century. This is a situation not unique to Nigeria.
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According to experts, Nigerian languages are rapidly approaching extinction. Within the next thirty years, most indigenous languages may become extinct while dominant languages will replace approximately 90 percent of all existing ones by the end of this century.” emphasized the Executive Secretary.
Language is considered to play a pivotal role in the promotion, preservation and propagation of culture. Additionally, it serves as a vehicle for transmitting Nigeria’s tangible cultural heritage – this was pointed out by Otunba Ajiboye.
According to him, one cannot have a complete sense of identity without being able to speak their indigenous language. This is why James Brown famously proclaimed “I’m black and proud”. He believes that not taking pride in your cultural heritage makes you unfit for existence, akin to being naked and empty inside.
In promoting Nigerian languages within the country, he urged stakeholders—especially parents—to avoid misusing cultural values and to cultivate a strong inclination toward speaking their native tongue with their children.
“It is important for everyone to embrace their mother tongue as it sets them apart, instills a sense of pride, identity, equality and justice,” he further stated.
Mr. Segun Adegbaju, the Director of Orientation and Cultural Affairs at NICO announced that the August edition aims to cater specifically to students on vacation, employees working in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other individuals who are enthusiastic about acquiring knowledge regarding indigenous languages apart from their own mother tongues.
Mr Adegbaju reiterated NICO’s commitment to promoting Nigerian languages for national development, stating that the same training is also being organized for Corps members during their orientation camp and other occasions.
The training’s recipients expressed appreciation towards NICO for the program.
The beneficiaries requested additional funding for NICO’s programs that aim to preserve Nigerian languages and promote the nation’s culture, as they believed that the training would improve their communication abilities in indigenous dialects. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding these languages from extinction.
The climax of the occasion was the awarding of certificates to those who took part.
