The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Oyo State Office, today Thursday 7th of September, 2023, closes its August edition of the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) at All Souls High School, Old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.
In his remark the Executive Secretary of NICO, Mallam Ado Mohammed Yahuza, who was represented by the Head of Oyo State Office Mr. Odum Kenneth welcome students and other invited guests to the closing ceremony. He said that the Nigerian Language Programme was conceived by the Institute in 2008 to serve as a platform where our young ones who are from different ethnic background are taught how to speak another language other than their mother tongues. He affirmed that the language programme is intended to stop the erosion of our cherished cultural heritage knowing full well that language is the vehicle for the transmission of our culture from one generation to another. He added that language is an integral part of part of our culture.
Speaking further, he aluded that language is a unifier in a multi-ethnic society like ours, that when people speak and understand each other within a community, there is a greater trust which engenders national cohesion, peace, and development.
Mr. Odum appreciated the resource person for their time and the diligence they exhibited in imparting on the participants, and also the entire staff of the state office for their cooperation during the one month-long intensive language training programme which is aimed at actualizing the institute’s core mandate.
In a remark, the Principal of All Souls High School, Mr. Francis A I. who was represented by the Cultural Club Coordinator Mrs. L O. Olajide said that language is vital in the transmission of our cultural heritage from one generation to another hence, they are a mark of identity for a group of people. According to her, any group that loses her language equally losses her identity as a group. She went further to encourage the students to take pride in practicing the different languages learnt and she also use the opportunity to commend NICO for their effort in promoting and sustaining our indigenous language through the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, urging the institute to consider the school in their subsequent editions of the programme.
Highpoint of the event was the presentations by the students in Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo languages.
The event came to a climax with a vote of thanks by the Head of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Odum Felicia.
Corporate Affairs Unit
NICO, Oyo State Office.