NICO Commences Another Round Of Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme

In a bid to sustain citizen’s interest in speaking their mother’s tongue, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, has commenced another round of one month free Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the programme in Abuja, the Executive Seecrerary of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, said the training programme would feature fourteen Nigerian languages.

Otunba Ajiboye, who was represented by the Director of Orientation and Cultural Affairs in NICO, Mr Segun Adegbaju stated that the event which is going on simultaneously across the country has over two thousand participants.

“The one month annual Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme of NICO is mainly to promote the use of mother tongue most especially the younger generation who are fond of giving more attention to English language as their major means of communication and this is not good enough because one’s indigenous language is key to promoting individual identity most especially culture for peaceful cohesion, unity and national development”.

While expressing concern over the poor funding of the Institute’s activities, the Executive Seecrerary of NICO reiterated the commitment of the Agency towards harnessing culture for national development.

“Our activities here in NICO is under funded by the Federal Government and what we do is very essential towards ensuring that we effectively use the avenue of language and culture towards realizing Government’s developmental programmes because without promoting peace and unity through the instrumentality of culture, meaningful development cannot be achieved” the NICO Boss emphasized.

Otunba Ajiboye stressed the need for more measures that would revamp the nation’s cultural values towards ensuring sustainable unity and peaceful cohesion in the country.

Some of the participants at the one month free Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme commended NICO for its consistency in safeguarding Nigerian languages from going into extinction.

They also stressed the need for more funding for NICO to enable the Institute realize its mandate.

Certificates are expected to be presented to the participants at the end of the one month free Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji