Expert Warns Against Recolonization Through Neglect Of Indigenous Languages
The Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages( NINLAN), Aba, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, has warned that excessive use of foreign languages to the exclusion of the mother tongue could lead the country to re-colonisation.
The Professor of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages sounded the warning while addressing newsmen in his office.
He argued that with the alarming rate of neglect of their mother tongue by Nigerians while projecting foreign languages, the country runs the risk of a new form of colonisation, that of our identity as people of various cultures, languages and ethnicity.
According to the distinguished academic, ” those who fail to speak their mother tongue but prefer to communicate in foreign languages are inadvertently encouraging our re-colonization by the foreign nations whose languages they speak and promote to the neglect of their own.”
He said the increasing phenomenon of neglect of some languages could result in those languages going extinct- having no one who can communicate with them.
To obviate the danger of the re-colonization and extinction of indigenous languages, the Executive Director urged state governments, the press, leaders and stakeholders to encourage their wards and children to communicate in their mother tongue and also get them enrolled to study Nigerian Languages at NINLAN.
Addressing guests at the 8th Matriculation Ceremony of the Institute, the Executive Director announced that the goal of his administration is ” to establish NINLAN as a globally recognised centre of excellence in Nigerian Languages and cultures, multilingual research, indigenous knowledge systems and teacher preparation.”
He explained that his administration had made significant impact in developing the language Institute by affiliation to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; advancing Nigerian languages through technology; developing world-class conference facilities; strengthening security and infrastructure on campus; promoting sports and holistic development; enhancing staff welfare; expansion of academic programmes, among others.
The language Institute Director said his administration ” has prioritised transforming the Institute’s Language Laboratory by providing state-of-the-art Information and Technology facilities and contemporary language- learning applications…to strengthen language teaching, translation, interpretation, digital scholarship and multilingual research, while ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the technological competencies required in today’s knowledge-driven world.”
The Executive Director restated his resolve to position the Aba-based language Institute as a globally recognised centre of excellence in Nigerian language study and multilingual research and innovation.
Prof. Ogbonna enjoined the 147 matriculating students to take their study seriously; obey all the rules of the Institute and remain focused on the pursuit of their goal to graduate and become future leaders of the society.
The heads of relevant federal supervising agencies, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, were present at the ceremony.
