Bayelsa Disburses N10m To Ijaw Language Teachers

The Bayelsa Government has disbursed N10 million as scholarship to 110 Ijaw language teachers studying at the Niger Delta University (NDU).

Governor Seriake Dickson, while disbursing the fund last Thursday in Yenagoa, said the gesture was part of activities lined up by the state government to commemorate the 2013 International Mother Tongue Day.

According to him, it was also to actualise the policy of preserving and promoting Ijaw language.

Dickson, who was represented by the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Edmond Allison-Oguru, said, government was committed to the teaching of Ijaw language in primary and secondary schools in the state.

He also said that on graduation, the beneficiaries of the scholarship, would be deployed to public schools in the state to ensure adequate manpower.

The UNESCO Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Ngozi Awuzie, said indigenous languages would promote mutual understanding and peace.

“We encourage teaching of children in their mother tongues which facilitates the fight against illiteracy and contribute to improved quality of education,” she said.

Highlight of the ceremony was the presenting of cheque to the Niger Delta Studies Centre of the University.