The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in its advocacy for indigenous language preservation has sustained its initiative for the teaching of Nigerian Indigenous Language Programming (NILP) at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camps.
The impact of the language programme is already been felt across more than fifteen NYSC Camps nationwide, aiming to reach a wide audience of youth amidst the lack of interest and gradual decline of our indigenous languages.
For the Institute, the initiative is not only about preserving indigenous languages but also about promoting national unity and celebrating the rich cultural heritage that characterizes Nigeria.
Addressing Corp members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye disclosed that there are carefully lined up language professors to help them develop interest in learning the indigenous languages, especially Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba online via Microsoft Word and WhatsApp platforms.
Represented by a Chief Cultural Officer, Blessing Fashomo, Ajiboye stressed that for deliberate follow-up and feedback, a Google form will be at the end of the 4-week program.
He therefore commended the National Youth Service Corps for their successful synergy and called for more collaboration in establishing NICO indigenous language clubs in communities.
“I wish to sincerely express my profound gratitude to the DG – NYSC, Brig. Gen. Y. D. Ahmed, and his management team for accepting to partner with NICO to promote the teaching of the Nigerian Indigenous languages towards restoring interest in the knowledge and speaking of our Indigenous languages as well as safeguard them from going into extinction
“The Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) as a flagship programme of the Institute was conceptualized due to the obvious lack of interest and the gradual decline of our Indigenous languages especially among our teeming youths.”