The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs of Katsina State, Alhaji Hamza Muhammad Brodo, has commended the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for its commitment towards reviving interest in our indigenous languages, thereby saving them from going into extinction.

Alhaji Hamza gave this commendation during the flag off of the 2018 edition of Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme (NILP), organised by the NICO North-West Zonal Office, Katsina, Katsina State on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at the Conference Hall of the Katsina College, Katsina.

The Commissioner who called for strict adherence to standards, especially from resource persons to make the teaching and learning process effective also charged the participants to remain committed to the language programme to maximize the opportunity given by NICO.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Katsina State History and Culture Bureau, Dr Bashir Aliyu Sallau, expressed concern over the neglect of our indigenous languages in our dealings, saying it is high time Nigeria adopts the use of indigenous languages in educational instruction and other official interactions as practiced in other climes such as Europe and Asia.

Dr. Sallau, a beneficiary of a NICO organized workshop in 2013, said Nigeria can never develop unless we embrace and study each other’s language. He applauded NICO’s Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme as a unique effort that has continued to play a significant role in promoting Nigerian indigenous languages and culture.

For the Curator, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Katsina State, Alhaji Lawal M. Gawo, NICO’s language programme is timely; stressing that there is no better way to support it than to participate in the programme. He pledged to enrol as a participant with some members of staff from his office.

The Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji Abdulmunini Kabir Usman, lauded NICO NILP as invaluable, especially with its focus on reviving, preserving and promoting Nigeria’s rich indigenous languages and culture. Represented by the Sarkin Fadan Katsina, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ismail, the Emir lamented that so many minority languages in the country have gone into extinction and encouraged participants to give their best and practice whatever they will learn from the programme.

On his part, the the Acting Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr. Louis Eriomala, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Coordinator, NICO North-West Zonal Office, Mallam Uthman Ibrahim Galadima expressed worry that as laudable as the objectives of the language programme are, the poor attitude of Nigerians to their mother tongue could lead to their extinction and the programme is therefore to address this observation.

Junaidu Bawa

Corporate Affairs

NICO North West Zone,

Katsina,