Cite this article as: Busa, M. A. (2025). The Imperative of Using Nigerian Languages for Peace and Sustainable Development of Nigeria. Zamfara International Journal of Humanities, 3(1), 1-6. www.doi.org/10.36349/zamijoh.2025.v03i01.001.
THE IMPERATIVE OF USING NIGERIAN LANGUAGES FOR PEACE AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA
Muhammad, Aliyu Busa
Department of Nigerian Languages, Nasarawa State
University, Keffi – Nigeria
Abstract: Man can achieve virtually
nothing without the use of language. It is a means by which people in business,
scientific research, political interaction, etcetera, exchange information and
ideas to develop plans, proposal, and policies for sustainable development.
Language enables man to understand his neighbour and to keep in touch with
other people at all times. Language is used in decision making process and it
is a medium through which relationships are created, extended and maintained.
It is an instrument that could be used for meaningful political, social,
economic, scientific and technological development. Peace on the other hand, is
associated with corporate co-existence, unity, brotherhood/brotherliness and
cohesion. Peace is far more than (just) the absence of war. This paper
discusses the imperatives of using indigenous languages of Nigeria in adding
value to Nigeria’s peace for sustainable development drive. The paper regrets
that, Nigeria has not been laying the required emphasis on the teaching and
learning of her indigenous languages, resulting in her inability to develop
scientifically and technologically. It also cites example of countries such as
china, India and japan that have developed so rapidly over the years due to
their splendid ability in developing their indigenous language(s) which has
impacted positively on their scientific and technological base. It finally
suggested a reexamination of Nigeria’s position on developing her scientific
and technological base through the encouragement of the use of her indigenous
language(s).
Introduction
Western powers have succeeded in brainwashing Africans and especially Nigerians on the fiction that the use or study of their indigenous language(s) is retrogressive, a keg and even useless. Recent studies have however, shown that the use and study of African languages is the cornerstone of Africa’s scientific and technological development. Western powers, for example, America, Britain, Germany and France have developed over the years due to their splendid ability to use and propel their language(s) in all spheres of their lives to greater heights (Busa, 2015). Before the scientific and technological development of western powers, Sumerian (Iran and/or Iraq) was the most powerful and developed state in terms of scientific and technological development in the world (Busa, 2015). The western powers recognized the potentiality of that asset of Sumeria, they thus, went and captured it, translated all the scholarly works of Sumeria into the European language(s) and added value to them. Presently, development has shifted from the Arab world (Middle East) to the western world. To ensure sustainable development in all ramifications, Nigeria must stand up from its slumber, not by the use of the sword or heavy artillery bombardments, but through indigenous language(s) in developing our sociological, cultural, religious, scientific and technological base which will go along way in sustaining our development (Busa, 2015).
Language Policy in Nigeria
The main thrust of language education policy enunciated at various times, especially in 1977 and revised in 1981, is to develop the various indigenous languages of Nigeria, and to enhance teaching-and-learning through the use of our indigenous languages. The major points of the policy state that, “government appreciates the importance of language as a means of promoting social interaction, cultures and national cohesion” (FRN, 1977). Thus, every child shall learn the language of his immediate environment. The policy went further to state that at the early childhood/ pre-primary education level, government will ensure that, the medium of instruction is principally the mother tongue or the language of the immediate environment. From the fourth year of schooling, English language shall progressively be instructed as the language of instruction viz-a-viz the language of the immediate environment; while French shall be taught as a subject. To implement these policies, Government promised to provide the necessary basic infrastructure that will make the policy work and achieve its desired objectives. Answer to the question on whether government has been able to provide these basic infrastructures or not, is a food-for-taught.
However, the desire by government to foster national unity and make learning more meaningful, practical and child centered, through the national language policy is not yielding any positive result. The policy might be said to be good, but it is surrounded by a lot of predicaments. One of the major predicaments is the lack of adequately trained teachers to teach the three major Nigeria languages. The few available teachers are overworked and overstretched to the extent that they cannot put in their best in imparting knowledge to the students. Apart from the problem of teachers, the multilingual nature of this country has made it impossible to implement the policy. Many people are not ready to leave their language(s) to study another person’s language. Also the lack of seriousness by government is another predicament. Materials that are supposed to be provided by the government to make the policy workable are not readily available. It is therefore obvious that government has failed in this direction. To reverse these ugly trends, the teacher-training curriculum being used in teacher training institutions across the country should be reviewed and many changes and innovations added (Bamgbose, 2001). Teachers should also be trained in the effective use of mother tongue. Workshops, seminars, and conferences should be organized for teachers regularly in order to keep them abreast of the new innovation in indigenous languages teaching. Primary Education as a course in Colleges of Education and Elementary Education as a course at the University should also undergo some major review. The aim is to transform the existing training curriculum in order to obtain the expected relevance and functionality. Also, adequate funding should be made for the present language policy to succeed. Government should therefore, prepare to make arrangement to ensure that funds are made available to support relevant organs for the development of relevant teaching and learning materials for our education sector to function effectively well.
Nigerian Languages
Nigerian languages are languages that have their basis in Nigeria. They are languages being spoken predominantly in Nigeria. In other words, these are languages with strong holds in Nigeria. According to Hansford, et al (1976), there are about 350 languages and dialects spoken across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Sidi (2006) discloses that, the languages being spoken in Nigeria are over 500. Out of these numbers of languages and dialects spoken in Nigeria, three have been selected as Nigeria’s major languages. Orthographies of these languages are being developed. Though, much is still being desired. The languages are: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
Hausa being the predominant language spoken especially in the northern part of Nigeria, and Igbo being predominantly spoken in the eastern part of the country, with Yoruba being predominantly spoken in the western part of the Nigeria. Most of the languages spoken in Nigeria could be classified into four major language groups (Greenberg, 1963). These includes: The Afro-asiatic language family; the Khoisan; the Niger-Kordofanian and the Nilo Sahara languages. In spite of these numbers of languages being spoken in Nigeria and their speakers who are diverse in religion, social status, political class, education and kinship lining has remained an entity that is indivisible. Some say, this is a mere coincidence, while others say, it has been destined by God. To sum it, Nigeria is still united because we have learnt to leave with one another, tolerating and accepting one another’s differences. The Nigerian polity is a good example of an idle sportsmanship.
The Nigeria Language Question
Language can only be helpful bond of unity where attitudes to it are not hostile. According to Hansford (1976) and Wilkins (1985), no language has any intrinsic superiority over another; all languages of the world are capable of equal developmental potentialities. Language is therefore, value-free in relation to its potential performance and language spoken by only a few hundred of people could be put to all manner of uses.
It would therefore be embarrassing at this stage of our political development, to continue to use English as our national language. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba can be used as Nigeria’s national language, since they have large constituencies in Nigeria. English lacks any of such constituency in Nigeria and it is clearly not a rallying point for even a minority community in Nigeria. Bamgbose (1983) estimate the speaking population of English in Nigeria to about 10%. Amayo (1983), Adegbite (2003) and Sidi (2006) sums up the national language question in Nigeria by saying, “it is a shame to note that government is yet to put in any extra-efforts to make Nigerian languages grow”. It is therefore believed that an effort by the government would lead to the emergence of one of Nigeria’s major languages as a national language.
We may also ask ourselves whether it is possible for a language in Nigeria; given our sociolinguistic backgrounds. I strongly believe that the answer to this question is in the AFFIRMATIVE, YES! India, the sociolinguistic giant, after choosing fourteen indigenous languages as national language, got resistance from more than one thousand other linguistic groups and when Hindi was finally proclaimed as the sole official language of India, government was severely shaken; but this could not deter the determined government of India from adopting an indigenous language as a national language. Swahili in Tanzania is gradually replacing English and very soon, it is hoped that English would be forced to assume the status of a foreign language.
The fact that we are still using English as our national language reveals an appalling state of the country psyche about its identity and direction as a republic. English language showcases as part of the conspiracy theory, the demise of Nigeria languages, which curiously pushes us in trenches upon one another. Regionalism, ethnicity, and nepotism are partly traceable to our misunderstanding of the regional and ethnic languages found in Nigeria. Self-actualization and national identity will continue to elude us, in as much as we live, adore and dwell on anything foreign and disrespect anything indigenous. Let us also pause to ask ourselves this question. What national language shall we prefer to use as Nigerians? Is it English or one of our indigenous languages? There is nothing wrong in trying with an “open mind” to choose one of our numerous languages as a national language and to gradually phase out English as a national language. Records have shown that it was possible in china, Russia, India and Japan (Carsile, 2006). We cannot continue to use English of the Britons, while our indigenous languages are in decline in our homes and workplaces. Our youths are facing challenges at home and abroad when it comes to the use of our languages, and the Nigerian authorities are doing nothing about this matter. A decline in the use of our indigenous languages is a decline in our character, ethics, education, culture, traditions and everything else. If you go to china, they speak, teach, educate, trade and transact business in Chinese. If you go to Russia, Russians speak, teach, educate, trade and transact business in the Russian language, if you go to Germany; Germans speak, teach, educate, trade and transact business in German. In Britain, the Britons speak, teach, educate, trade and transact business in English. In the Arabian countries, the Arabs, teach, educate, trade and transact business and private businesses in Arabic; and same is obtained in France, India, Korea, Japan and China. Sadly, and unfortunately, when you come to Nigeria, with her beautiful regions, and ethnic nations, you see something different – language decline and strangely too! Nigeria forces its citizens to teach, educate, and transact governmental and non-governmental businesses in a foreign language, called English! This is a smack in the face and a disgrace to Nigeria and her citizens.
For our present situation, we may suggest that we adopt the peace formula. This starts with the existence of numerous Nigeria languages, functioning side-by-side with English (the state at which we are today). This is to be followed by cultural fusion of the Nigerian society with linguistic development which will lead to one of the languages emerging as a national language during which English assumes the status of a foreign language.
The Imperative of Using Nigerian Language(S) For Peace and Sustainable Development of Nigeria.
To ensure sustainability in government policy initiatives and implementation, we should know that it is paramount to use our indigenous languages in carrying out our public and private, government and non-governmental activities. The use of our indigenous language(s) will increase our tourism network and boost our nation’s regional and local economies. For examples, those multinationals coming to partner with Nigeria in the oil industry and others sections of the economy, the will have to learn our language(s), if not it will be impossible for them to operate and carry out transactions with the Nigerian state or industries. This will move our languages to a global stage and even become internationalized. The internationalization will set the language(s) up to compete with other international languages across the globe. Our languages will become sources of revenue; because individuals and nations will flood our land(s) to learn our language(s) in other to carry out businesses with us just as we are presently doing; flooding other people’s countries and learning their language. Our local authorities and language instructors will become high value assets in high demand, respect at home and abroad. Everything is not oil and gas, our languages can also generate funds and better our economy, and additional engineering and source of revenue for Nigeria. Whatever language is chosen, all the benefits enumerate above will certainly be for the socio-economic advancement of our country, Nigeria and Nigerians.
Countries that have adopted indigenous languages have never been found lagging behind in terms of development, efforts, peace and sustainability. Japan, Russia, China, and India have now become world powers. The secret is that, any education received, in the language of the people enriches them, apart from raising their psyche; it also makes them relevant with regards to their contribution to National Peace and Development. The people can also understand and participate fully, in all sectors of the economy, because, they are totally free from any cultural and communication barriers.
Disadvantages of Using Foreign Language to Develop Nigeria
In a research conducted by Bamgbose (2001), it was discovered that the use of foreign language(s) such as English, French, Arabic or German in carrying out government business in Nigeria is retrogressive. Take for instance, the case of junior staff in government establishments, many instructions given to them by their superior cannot be carried out due to the fact that they cannot understand the instruction passed to them in English. People that are attending board meetings can bear witness to the fact that a lot of hours are usually wasted on correcting minutes of meetings. Because such meetings are conducted in English language, even when members including the chairman and secretary are from the same linguistic group. If such meetings were to be conducted in our indigenous language(s), it is certain that such grammatical errors in the minutes would have been minimal and easily corrected.
Suggestions
Based on our discussions, this paper proposes the following suggestions to improve the development of Nigerian languages for peace and sustainable development of Nigeria:
1. There should be an enforcement of the national language policy. That is to say, henceforth, the business of our legislative assemblies could also be conducted in our indigenous languages.
2. English language should gradually cease to be Nigeria’s official language. It should gradually be replaced with one of the three major Nigeria languages, i.e., Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, or even any of the other 500 languages spoken in Nigeria.
3. Part of the qualifications for employment into the public service of Nigeria should be the ability to communicate in any of the three major Nigerian languages in addition to our mother tongue.
4. One of the conditions for registration of political parties must be that, the party symbols and logo must reflect the cultural heritage and/or identity of the Nigerian people.
5. Mobilizations and political rallies should be conducted in our indigenous language(s).
6. Massive translation of science and technology books and other related teaching and teaching materials should commence henceforth to put Nigeria on the pedestal of development.
7. Every foreign national willing / wishing to come into Nigeria for either public or private purpose must learn to communicate in any of the three major Nigerian languages; depending on the geopolitical environment he/she wishes to live.
8. Nigeria languages teachers should be encouraging by way of remuneration to enhance their productivity in Nigerian languages teaching.
Conclusion
If the government of this country is actually serious on the issue of peace and sustainable development of Nigeria, the development of our indigenous languages must be taken with all forms of seriousness. Nigerians should realize that, no nation on the surface of this earth has been able to develop to greater heights without the use of her indigenous language. China, Japan, Russia, Britain and France have become world powers today as a result of their ability to use their own language and not foreign ones. From our experience also, it is glaring to note that world development generally is not only peculiar to the use of English alone. Other languages of the world stand even greater chances of developing science and technology base for their countries. The experience of the Asian tigers is a case in point.
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