The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has disclosed that the Institute will soon digitize one of its core programmes; the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) where participants can have access to it online.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Louis Eriomala made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 during the closing ceremony of the two-month language programme in the barracks, held at the Kuje Medium Prisons Complex, Abuja, FCT.

AlexprinsonRepresented by Mr. Alex Omijie (Director, Orientation & Cultural Affairs), Eriomala said with the maiden edition of the Language in the Barracks programme, designed for officers and men of the military and para military agencies and their family members, the Institute is working towards fine-tuning the programme to be organized on a regular basis.

In his words “Plans have reached advanced stage to digitize the language programme. Very soon, interested participants can have access to the programme online. That is in addition to having it in a regular classroom setting, participant can use their computers in the privacy of their homes to log on and learn a language”

“We are working on that and very soon, interested participant will have the benefits. Those that could not attend this time should look out for subsequent editions to come and those who have participated in this maiden edition should endeavour to improve their skills”.

According to him, being a multi lingual officer would enhance the officers professional efficiency and effectiveness; promote spirit-de-corps; better communication and understanding among officers as well as facilitate information gathering and cordial relationship between the prison service and the host community.

Further stressing the importance of our indigenous languages to our national pride and identity, Eriomala maintained that language as a basic and versatile medium of communication does not only build and foster relationships but also binds us as a people.

He expressed appreciation for the tremendous support accorded to the Institute by the Nigerian Prison Service towards the success of the programme and urged the graduands to put into practice all they have learnt.

The Comptroller General of Prisons, FCT Command, Mr. Mustapha Atta, commended the efforts of the Institute in teaching officers and men of the service indigenous languages in the past two months, saying it has indeed cemented the relationship among staff, inmates and families residing in the barracks.

PrisonrepRepresented by the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Theresa Chinwe Obiahu,

The Prisons CG also encouraged the participants to put into practice, all they have learnt during the training so that the efforts, resources, skills and techniques used by NICO to train them will not be in vain.

The Gomo of Kuje, HRH, Alhaji Jubril Tanko in his remarks also commended NICO for the initiative of the Language in the Barracks programme, saying it is good and timely, considering the challenges the country is facing in the area of security.

According to him, language as Prisona means of communication is the identity of a people which breeds mutual co-existence and when an officer speaks other languages other than his own, it assist him or her in information gathering where necessary.

In all, Sixteen officers of the Nigerian Prison Service received training in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages at the Kuje Medium Prison where the best graduating students were given cash prizes as well as publications of the Institute.

Caleb Nor

Media Asst.-Ag. ES

NICO HQTRS

Abuja, FCT.