A pressure group, the Old Akumaimo Indigenous Forum, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the development of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba.

The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by members of the Forum to the newly appointed Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Ogbonna Onuoha, in his office. The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Roland Otete.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Otete explained that the host communities donated approximately 209.5 hectares of land to the Federal Government for the establishment of the Institute, with the expectation that the institution would drive meaningful development in the area. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to provide the necessary infrastructure required to reposition the Institute for growth and sustainability.

He further urged the government to direct the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to post students directly to the Institute to increase student enrolment and strengthen its academic programmes. According to him, the growth and expansion of NINLAN would positively impact the host communities socially and economically.

Dr. Otete also expressed optimism about the proposed upgrading of the Institute to a university. He appealed to the National Assembly to accelerate the legislative processes necessary for the realization of the proposal.

The Forum congratulated Professor Onuoha on his appointment as Executive Director and pledged its full support for his administration. Members of the delegation described the presence of the Institute in their community as a source of pride and assured the Executive Director of their readiness to provide advice and assistance whenever necessary.

In his response, Professor Onuoha acknowledged the longstanding challenges confronting the Institute since its establishment. He noted that previous administrations had made efforts to address the problems, although many of them had persisted over the years.

The Executive Director identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges affecting the Institute. He explained that the monthly overhead required to effectively run the institution exceeds ₦30 million, whereas the amount currently received falls far below that figure. He added that the financial constraints have compelled him to personally bear some official expenses, including transportation to work from Umuahia.

Despite these challenges, Professor Onuoha expressed confidence that the Institute was gradually moving beyond its most difficult period. He assured the delegation that his administration remained committed to transparency, fairness, and cordial relations with the host communities. He further pledged that all legitimate concerns of the communities would receive appropriate attention.

Present during the visit were the Registrar, Mrs. Charity Ijoma; the Bursar, Mr. Kolawole Aliu; the Institute Librarian, Professor Cyprian Ugwu; the Director of Works, Architect Emeka Izuwah; and the Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Mr. Chris Nwankwor.