Don Canvasses Development Of Indigenous Languages

The Coordinator and
Head, National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Dr Azubuike Ikediashi, last Thursday urged Nigerians to support efforts to boost indigenous languages.
Ikediashi, in an interview with newsmen in Aba, Abia, said that such support would enable Nigerians to access the benefits of local languages.
He said it was important for Nigerians to use their languages to build businesses, enhance social development, democracy and education.
The coordinator noted that people appreciated and readily cooperated with business partners who spoke languages they understood, hence the need for people to take advantage of this to promote their businesses.
He decried the neglect of Nigerian languages by Nigerians because of the lack of appreciation of their importance and roles in education, business and self image.
According to him, the institute, having regained its autonomy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in March 2014, would need about N4.3 billion to enable it to execute its activities.
He, however, said that the institute would be unable to meet its 2014 goals because they were not captured in the budget that was mandated to teach, research and promote Nigerian languages
He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to provide the institute with a take-off grant which was not made available to it at inception 14 years ago, as well as appropriate funds to enable the institute to execute its activities this year.