A High Court Judge in the Bayelsa State Judiciary, Honourable Justice (Mrs.) Doris Adokeme has received a prize at the just concluded one-month Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) organized by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), South-South Zonal office, at No. 51, Imgbi Road, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
Presenting the prize to the High Court Judge, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, NICO South-South Zonal Coordinator, Mr. James Imohiosen, noted that the prize was in recognition of Justice Adokeme’s punctuality, consistency and commitment all through the one-month exercise, as well as her exemplary display of the spirit of patriotism.
Imohiesen used the opportunity to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the example of Justice Adokeme, to patronize the Institute’s indigenous language programme all over the country, as it was a veritable platform for people to gradually break down the language barrier in the Nigeria nation.
Responding, while receiving the prize, Justice Doris Adokeme expressed her excitement and gratitude to NICO for considering her qualified for such a wonderful prize and used the opportunity to commend the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, whom she described as a strong-willed Culture Ambassador.
The High Court Judge noted that a lot of people are interested in the learning of Nigerian indigenous languages, particularly in the Civil Service, as it will help them in communicating as they carry out their daily duties, mostly when they are outside their states of origin.
She assured NICO that she was going to introduce the NICO Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme to the Judiciary, even as she promised to enroll in the Weekend Indigenous language Programme to continue her learning to have mastery of the languages she had registered for.
Justice Adokeme also charged NICO to carry out more sensitization and enlightenment campaigns in this regard to the State Governments as well as the general public for people to key into this programme that has the potential of promoting peace and unity in Nigeria, adding that language was powerful and a strong uniting instrument that should not be overlooked.
The Honourable Justice, who hails from Rivers State, but is married to Mr. Chris Adokeme from Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, attended the programme with some lawyers from the Bayelsa State Judiciary and four of her children.
Clifford Ugwu
Corporate Affairs
NICO South-South Zone