NICO Trains Over 2,000 Nigerian On Indigenous Languages

To further promote and safeguard Nigeria’s indigenous languages from going into extinction, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, has trained over two thousand Nigerians in fourteen Nigerian languages.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 2025 August Edition of the Institute’s Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, NILP, in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye said the training was organized simultaneously in the Agency’s offices in the six geopolitical zones across the country.

“The Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) is an initiative that has been driven by dedication and enthusiasm by the Institute, and we are thrilled by the turnout of participants in this years programme.
Nigerian Indigenous Languages are a vital part of our cultural identity and national heritage, and they hold the key to the understanding of our history, traditions, and values, “.

According to him, by promoting these languages, we not only preserve our cultural diversity but also contribute to the richness of human experience and the month-long, intensive August Edition of the language programme was conceived in response to the alarming decline of indigenous languages globally, a trend that has sadly not spared Nigeria.

In his words “This initiative is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of speaking our indigenous languages, instilling pride in our Nigerian Indigenous languages, promoting national identity, and contributing to Nigerias cultural diplomacy goals and experts warn that if current trends continue, most Nigerian languages could be extinct within the next three decades”.

“It is projected that by the end of this century, about 90% of languages may be replaced by more dominant ones.
In light of these concerns, and in fulfilment of its statutory responsibilities, NICO has introduced several initiatives in addition to the August Edition of the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, ” the NICO Boss explained.

“The survival of our indigenous languages depends on our collective effort and sustained commitment. We therefore call on the government, the media, educational institutions, and civil society to support language revitalization efforts and government at all levels must, as a matter of policy, promote the use of indigenous languages in education, media, and legislative processes”.

“Parents also have a critical role to play by ensuring that our children take pride in, as well as speak our indigenous languages. We also encourage both parents and their wards to enrol in our training programmes across our centres nationwide. By doing so, we are not only saving our languages from extinction but also celebrating and preserving our rich cultural identity, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye added.”

In a vote of thanks, the Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs in NICO, Mr Segun Adegbaju said the Institute would continue to embark on programmes that would promote and DM safeguard Nigerian languages from going into extinction.

Mr Segun Adegbaju, therefore, solicited the continuous support of stakeholders towards actualizing the mandate of NICO in harnessing culture for national development.

In their seperate remarks, some of the participants commended NICO for sustaining and improving on the annual Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme and called for more finding of NICO’s programmes and activities towards enhancing unity, peace and cultural cohesion through Nigerian indigenous language.

Highpoints of the closing ceremony of the NILP were practical demonstrations of languages learnt by the participants as well as presentation of gifts and certificates to the beneficiaries.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji