The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Gombe State Command, CC Felix N. Theman has expressed appreciation to the Management of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for bringing the Barracks edition of its Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme (NILP) to their door steps.Speaking at the closing ceremony of 2023 edition of the Language in the Barracks programme which held at the FRSC Sector Command, Gombe State, Theman said the knowledge acquired by officers and men of the Corps will not only help in breaking language barrier but also build peaceful co-existence in their day to day assignments.He said for us to build the nation and avoid generational gaps, we must make collective efforts and work harder towards making the best of our cultural diversities, which language plays a major role.Further narrating his experience of how language has helped him to effectively discharge his duties, the Commander said whenever he finds himself among people from different ethnic backgrounds, he simply identifies with their cultural background or through communicating with them in their mother tongue. According to him, this goes a long way to create a sense of identity and belonging among them, thereby giving room for peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding as people are very sensitive to their languages and cultural affiliations. Earlier in an opening remark, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Ado Muhammed Yahuza expressed joy for the support and cooperation of the Corps towards achieving the set goals of the programme. Represented by the State Coordinator, NICO Gombe State office, Mallam Mohammed Yahaya Sanda, Yahuza informed that the Institute is saddled with the mandate of harnessing Nigeria’s cultural resources to meet the challenges of social integration, peaceful co-existence unity and national development and the Language in the Barracks programme is one of the major programmes the Institute uses to achieve that.According to him, the decision to take the Language programme closer to the Military and Paramilitary personnel is in order to help them build human relations, ease surveillance and also to have effective intelligence gathering.The Executive Secretary who described the programme as a “Clarion call”, therefore charged all personnel to utilize the knowledge acquired to effectively carry out their assignments for nation building and harmonious living, saying the role of our indigenous language in safeguarding the nation cannot be overemphasized.Having learnt new languages, the participants on their part, expressed delight while sharing their experience in the languages learnt. In their separate remarks, DCC. Patrick F. Amos and CI Sadiq Shuaibu described the programme as “enlightening” which they said has charged them to put more interest in learning Nigerian Indigenous Languages other than their own mother tongue for ease of operations while at their duty posts.The ceremony was climaxed by the presentation of certificates to participants for their efforts and determination throughout the period of the programme, while the recipients received them with pride and fulfillment, bearing in mind that they are found worthy to be issued certificates of participation.The programme featured the three major languages in Nigeria: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. In attendance were DCC Nora H. Irmiya; DCC Godwin Zawua; DCC Musa Kenneth; DCC Patrick F. Amos; DCC Nocholas Ekueme and ACC Felicia T. Obasi among other members of the Corps present. Also in attendance were members of staff, NICO Gombe State office. Reported by:Pakwai, Candida N.Corporate Affairs Unit NICO Gombe.
LEARNING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES CAN BREAK BARRIERS, SAYS FRSC COMMANDER
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