By Peter Adelowo
The National Library of Nigeria has unveiled a compendium of Alphabets and numerals of Nigeria Languages.
At an event in Abuja to commemorate the international day of the mother language, the National Librarian, Professor Veronica Anunobi said the compendium was part of its effort to revive the local languages and ensure students speak and understand their mother tongue.
Professor Anunobi explained that the compilation which was done in collaboration with language experts, linguists, researchers and other stakeholders from across the country, has the alphabets and numerals of forty-two languages.
She stated that the compendium also showcased Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity and would be distributed to schools at the various levels and the orientation camps for the utilization of Corps members.
“We were able to produce a compendium that has 42 languages with their alphabets and numbers.
“Today, we hereby present it to the general public, not just for the public but to be kept in libraries of schools, public schools, private schools, hospitals, National Youth Service Corps because I know in every community they usually study the language of the people, take it to the National Orientation Agency to promote these languages.” She said.
According to Professor Anunobi, twenty-nine out of the over five hundred languages in Nigeria were critically endangered and collaboration among stakeholders was pertinent to ensure these languages do not go into extinction.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO has called for the constitution of a National Committee on the preservation of local languages.
The National Programme Officer of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO Abuja office, Dr. Stephen Onyekwelu called on the government to set up a national committee to develop a roadmap for the revitalization of the local languages.
Dr. Onyekwelu explained that UNESCO was already working with the National Library on a pilot programme in Taraba State where some languages were identified for preservation.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, represented by the Assistant Chief Culture Officer in the ministry, Mrs. Chizoba Amamchukwu pledged to support programmes that promote the cultural heritage of the country.
