Thompson Anyadike
9 November 2009
Owerri — LANGUAGE has been found to be an indispensable and inevitable aspect of culture and therefore the rallying point of all elements of culture, as it goes beyond being a tool for communication as the speakers have identify, bridging the gap between the past and present as well as a basis for projecting into the future.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Alex Omigie at the opening ceremony of the institute's indigenous languages training programme in Owerri.
Omigie an officer in the establishment noted that the loss of one's mother tongue means loss of one's, history, origin and cultural badge, stressing that indigenous languages remain veritable tools for education, entertainment and relaxation, and also a guide for travelers to discover their kith and kin in foreign lands.
He regretted that people who allow their language go in Limbo have erased their names in the sands of time as today most Nigerian youths and children can hardly speak their mother tongue.
According to him, aim of the institute was to introduce the use of Igbo language in the South East to be used in governance and commerce as it is done in other zones in Nigeria. The institute which is a parastatal under the federal ministry of Tourism, culture and National orientation was established primarily to promote positive cultural values for national development through long term and short term programmes, seminars, workshops, promotion of indigenous language in one month long vacation intensive course for Efik, Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Gbasyi etc.
Chairman of the occasion Mr. Paddy Obinna lauded the efforts of the institute towards the re-establishment of indigenous languages in Nigeria but regretted a situation some people can hardly speak their language, adding that in homes parents speak English Language to their children, and then called for a change of attitude, noting that language is a source of pride to the speaker. He called on the Igbo people to speak it always.
Also speaking, a retired permanent secretary in Imo State civil service Mr. Charles Okoroafor advised the government to make Igbo Language compulsory in all the schools both primary and secondary (even private) as it will re-cultivate the habit of speaking Igbo Language. He enjoined the Imo Assembly members to use Igbo Language on the floor of the House one day every week pointing out that such measure would create more awareness.
Mr. Okoroafor moved that the awareness should penetrate through the local governments, villages and churches and maintained that Igbo language must be spoken and then gave Kudos to the initiators of the project. He urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity.
Reacting to questions from the Daily Champion the NICO boss in Owerri Mrs. Chioma Duru said the use of posters, banners, public address systems and the media have helped them in sensitizing people, pointing out that there are resource persons in all the approved languages and lectures are done in the former Okigwe road secretariat beside Imo State University, at 1 month duration.
She said registration is N3000 and candidates are pulled for all academic disciplines, school certificate holders and elementary six holders, market women, entrepreneurs etc. adding that similar programmes are run in Abuja, Bauchi, Lagos etc and Owerri is the South East centre of the (NICO) National Institute for cultural orientation.
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