Dirge for indigenous languages, by Francis Ewherido

Recently, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made a statement, which, as far as I am concerned, is a dirge for indigenous languages in Nigeria. He said that the federal government has cancelled the national policy mandating the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in primary and secondary schools.

The reason for the volte face is that Nigerian children have been performing abysmally in public examinations as a result of being taught in their mother tongues. He added that the decision to cancel the policy followed extensive data analysis and evidence showing that the use of mother tongue as the main medium of instruction had negatively affected learning outcomes in several parts of the country.

The minister urged stakeholders with differing views to present verifiable data to support their positions. I have a contrary view, but I don’t have empirical data to counter the minister. I have evidence. I will speak from my personal experience. I had my primary education in the 70s. The medium of communication was Urhobo (Ughelli dialect) and later Isoko (Ozoro dialect) languages. English was just a subject. It was in secondary school that English became a medium of communication. It was tough for many students, but the problem was not being taught in our native language in primary school. 

The Midwest Region, later Bendel State and now Delta State and Edo State, was and still is a multi-ethnic state. Our common means of communication was Pidgin English. Learning to speak English was a problem to some students, but I was lucky because my father was an English teacher and took time to teach us (my siblings and I) English as a subject, not a medium of communication, at home. My mother prohibited the speaking of English at home. Our language of communication was Urhobo (Ewhu dialect). Thanks to my mother, I speak Ewu (Ewhu) dialect fluently as if I grew up in Ewu. But I also still speak Urhobo (Ughelli dialect) and Isoko (Ozoro dialect) fluently till date. This is something that gives a lot of joy and satisfaction. It is this same joy and satisfaction this new policy will deny this generation and those unborn.

This government new policy doesn’t make sense to me. Language is an essential part of our culture. If you look at research findings and statistics, all the indigenous languages in Nigeria are dying. They are suffering from serious desertification. Fewer people are speaking them and their vocabulary is shrinking. The proverbs and wise sayings with their connotative meanings are gradually disappearing. The only language that is striving in Nigeria right now is Hausa. 

I told my children to learn how to speak Yoruba in school, since all the places where we have lived and currently live in Lagos are mini-Nigeria, but only one of them can speak Yoruba. The others said even their Yoruba friends can’t speak Yoruba. Some Igbos are crying that their language is dying. Some Northern ethnic minorities cried out recently that the Hausa language is overshadowing their indigenous languages and their children can’t speak their indigenous languages anymore. Thank God that it’s even an indigenous language that’s taking over. But they are not crying because they have a problem with Hausa language. They are crying because their language is an essential part of their identity and culture.

Delta State is in a terrible mess. Many Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw people who grew up in Warri city can’t speak their indigenous language fluently. The problem has been there since the 70s, if not 60s. Since the three major ethnic groups that live in Warri city have different languages, they devised a way to communicate. Pidgin English became the main mode of communication. The only advantage now is that Warri is number one in Pidgin English. Nowhere else compares. 

Right now, in Urhobo land and Isoko land, Pidgin English has taken over the rural areas. It’s their way of saying, “I belong.” “I’m a correct guy” “happening babe.” It’s very sad. Even old people in the villages are not left out. Our indigenous languages are endangered. It’s saddening. Ironically, one of the things I intend to do over the next decade is to study Urhobo and Isoko further. I am putting together books I will read. I am going to collect and listen to old Urhobo and Isoko music. I also want to get tapes on Isoko and listen to them to improve my spoken Isoko. We left Ozoro in January 1980. My spoken Isoko has suffered serious desert encroachment since then. I intend to regain what was lost and know more. I see some of my older friends in their late 60s and 70s going back to their roots and I am following them because that’s where I belong!

Yet the government is introducing a policy that is a dirge for the burial of our indigenous languages. I was happy when the federal government approved the National Language Policy (NLP) in 2022, which provided for instruction of pupils in indigenous languages for early child care education to primary six. The policy sought to promote indigenous languages, recognise their equal status, and improve early childhood learning outcomes, while English remains the official language used in later education and formal settings. Within three years, there is a policy summersault. This is retrogressive.

In India, country that was colonised by the British like Nigeria, there are 22 recognised official languages, but Hindi is the most widely spoken language, not English. Other major spoken languages are Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil. I spent time in Mumbai and the two major languages were Marathi and Hindi. In Chennai, the other city where I spent time, the major language is Tamil. I really loved it. Many Indians are not fluent in English. In fact, a guide told me that English is just a course in many Indian schools, while some schools use English as the medium of communication. States, regions, etc are allowed to have their own official language. India is deeply cultural in language fashion, architecture, etc., as if it was never colonised by the British. 

In 1980, India was almost at par with Nigeria, but India is way ahead of Nigeria. Yet most Indians communicate mainly in their indigenous languages. I suggest that we use English as our official means of communication nationwide, while regions and states should be allowed to promote our indigenous languages. It is an essential part of our culture. It must not be allowed to suffer more desertification until no tree will be left. In other words, we face the existential threat of the extinct of our indigenous languages.

ENSURING FREE TRATIC FLOW IN DECEMBER

Traffic in Lagos, especially in the Lagos Island and Lekki axis, during the Christmas season can be very frustrating. With Detty December around the corner, it will even be more nightmarish. Suspending the wholesale rehabilitation of the Lekki Expressway is a good move, but the Lagos State Government needs to sort out whatever is impeding the use of the coastal road as it promised earlier. This will make life easier for Lagosians and visitors on that axis. Honestly, the coastal road looks heavenly compared to the Lekki Road at least for now. 

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