The Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN ), Aba, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, has challenged State Governments to take urgent action toward rescuing Nigeria’s indigenous languages from decline and extinction.

The Professor of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages gave the charge when he received Leaders of Ibibio Alive Enterprise, an Uyo – based Non- governmental Organization pursuing the revival and development of the Ibibio language. The group was led by Dr. Ekwere Asuquo, the International President of Ibibio Alive Enterprise, who was accompanied by the Board Chairman of the Group, Dr. Effiong  Efuk, and Mr. Bassey Effiong, its Director of Research.

The NINLAN ED said it was time State Governors stepped in in the quest to revive, sustain and develop indigenous languages spoken in their respective states because ” the greatest asset of any people is their language. “

Onuoha urged the Governors to sensitize, encourage, motivate and sponsor their people to develop interest in speaking and studying their mother tongue.  He advocated that the Governors send teachers from their states to undergo the Postgraduate Diploma in Conversion Programme on Nigerian Languages in the Institute where they will acquire the requisite knowledge and certification to contribute toward  revolutionising the indigenous languages of their various states. The Executive Director urged the governors to “step in. If they do, young people in these states will be interested in studying their mother tongue. State Governments need to get deeply involved in the struggle for survival of the mother tongue. “

Prof. Onuoha expressed his deep impression about the great efforts and sacrifice being made by Dr. Asuquo and his Ibibio Alive team, and commended them:” I am impressed by the volume of sacrifice you have been making. You deserve to have State honours and special mention in the annals of indigenous language development in Nigeria.” The ED said NINLAN would award the Ibibio Alive Enterprise president the title of Ambassador of Nigerian Languages.

Specifically, the Professor urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to give necessary support and help to Ibibio Alive to facilitate the realization of its vision and objectives about Ibibio language. The state government, he said, should employ Ibibio Alive graduates in the state’s public schools and whip the sentiments and interests of more youths in the Ibibio language.

In his remarks, the Ibibio Alive President congratulated Prof. Onuoha on his appointment as NINLAN ED, and appreciated the contribution the Institute was making in the growth of Ibibio language through its collaboration with Ibibio Alive.

Dr. Asuquo also requested for NINLAN to include NCE Programme in the courses on which it collaborates with Ibibio Alive Enterprise, something the Executive Director was disposed to consent to, subject to the signing of a separate  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two partners.

Present with the ED to receive the visitors from Akwa Ibom were Prof. Ngozi Ijioma, Director of Academic Planning  and former Coordinator of the  Postgraduate Diploma Conversion Programme; Dr. Joy Chikezie, Dean of Postgraduate School/ Coordinator of Postgraduate Diploma Conversion Programme; Prof. Chinenye Udeze, adjunt staff; Mr. Chris Nwankwor, Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations; Dr. Aniefon Akpan, Lecturer in Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, and Mrs. Joy Metu, Deputy Registrar, Postgraduate School.