Desmond Iwuchukwu
Worried by the decline in the use of indigenous language among Nigerians, the Reading Association of Nigeria RAN has commenced a sensitization campaign on the need to speak and teach mother tongues in schools in Rivers State.
The National President of Reading Association of Nigeria RAN, Prof Graceful Ofodu, said this during the opening of a Reading Centre at the Comprehensive Secondary School in Opobo Town as part of activities to mark the 2022 International Mother Language Day celebration.
Prof Graceful Ofodu, represented by the National Director of Membership, Prof Priye Iyalla-Amadi said mother tongue gives every individual an identity.
”You’re aware that language plays a vital role in the development and ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural for all” she said.
The King of Opobo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Dandison Douglas-Jaja who was represented by Dr. Dienye Bell-Gam asked parents to speak their native languages to their children at home.
He said the speaking of the indigenous language at home will improve the speaking of the Ibani language among young ones in the area.
According to him, ”Language has to do with culture. When you talk about language, you with ethnicity, you talk with politics, you talk with economics, and so forth. The King will wish to say that the Ibani Language project has always been in his mind over the years and I’m sure that with the inception of this group we will start to attaining the sustainability of this group”.
In her comment, the Chairman of the Reading Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Prof Ibiere Ken-Maduako said the reading center will help revive the speaking of the Ibani language in the area.
She lamented that the Ibani language is now going extinct and vows that the group will assist teachers and community leaders in reviving the language.
The event also witnessed a reading competition in the Ibani language and other indigenous languages.
Our correspondent reports that the theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day is “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities”.
