Participants of the eight-week intensive Weekend Indigenous Language Programme have lauded the management of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for conceptualising and organising the weekend programme.

The commendations came during the closing ceremony of the 5th edition of the Nigeria Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), which took place on Friday, September 30th, 2011, at the Institute’s Training Scool complex, Iganmu-Lagos.

The participants, who were mainly staff of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), were highly elated for the opportunity given to them by their organisation as they now speak and converse in languages other than theirs, and called on NICO management to commence early publicity of the next language programme as this will help in attracting people, especially youths in secondary and tertiary Institutions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, who was represented by the Director, NICO Training School, Mr. Itapah Azuobu, said that the aim of the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme is to encourage Nigerians to speak and understand their mother tongue as well as to encourage them to learn, speak and converse in languages other than theirs, in order to promote peaceful co-existence and national integration.

According to Dr. Ayakoroma, the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme has become one of the giant steps the Institute has taken to promote, preserve and revive cultural communication among various ethnic groups in the country, and therefore commended the participants for their zeal and resilient spirit in joining NICO toward reviving our dying culture.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Edwin Odion, who is the National Coordinator (South-West Zone), National Film and Video Censors Board, said that the purpose of sending his staff to the Language Programme was  to enable them learn and speak Yoruba Language, which will help them to censor and market Yoruba movies around the South-West Zone.

In her vote of thanks, the Head, Lagos Liaison Office, NICO, Mrs. Brigitte Yerima, thanked the participants and the Instructors for the effort they put in teaching and learning the languages and advised participants to continue to practice what they had learnt as they interact and converse with other people around them.

The climax of the occasion was presentation of certificates to participants by the Director, NICO Training School, Mr. Itapah Azuobu.

Uche  Odionye
NICO Training School