The 5th edition of the Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme (NILP), organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Gombe State Office, came to an end, with the State Head, Mallam Yahaya Sanda, commending participants as well as the resource persons for their dedication and commitment throughout the programme.


 Speaking at the closing of the programme on Wednesday, 30th August, 2017, at the Arabic Teachers College in Gombe, Mallam Yahaya Sanda urged them to constantly communicate with their wards in their mother tongue at home to create a sense of pride in our languages.


 He said the learning of other languages will go a long way to foster national integration and create national pride and identity, which he stressed, can help in boosting the image of our dear country.

Commenting on the Institute’s steadfastness in tackling the challenges of Nigerian indigenous languages from going into extinction, Yahaya admonished participants to enrol in the Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Postgraduate Diploma programmes of NICO, either at the Training School in Lagos or the Abuja Study Centre, especially now that, the Institute has received approval from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, for the affiliation of the programmes.

Responding on behalf of the participants, Assistant Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Kenneth Musa, applauded the Institute’s efforts in organising the yearly event aimed at preserving Nigerian Indigenous Languages, disclosing that the programme has helped to enrich their relations in the office since their line of duty entails interaction and  communicating with persons from all walks of life.


 In the same vein, the Principal of ATC, Hussaini Aliyu Ismail, encouraged NICO to sustain its effort in national integration and unity using the NILP platform.


 Akinkunmi Adewole Jacob Yoruba Facilitator also commended NICO for coming up with this initiative, stating that the programme has challenged him to research more into his own dialect so as to remember some forgotten names of animals and items.


 This year’s NILP attracted participants from Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Ministry for Local Government Community Development; Ministry of Women Affairs; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as students from different institutions of higher learning in the state.


 Kimna Paah

Corporate Affairs Unit

NICO, Gombe