Education
Don Fears Extinction Of Many Nigerian Languages
A University teacher, Pro
fessor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, has revealed that given the linguistic situation in Nigeria and its impact on the overall development of the country, over half of Nigerian languages will vanish in the next century.
Professor Ndimele, who made the revelation recently in an inaugural lecture titled, “Nigerian Core Grammars in Global Communication. Any glimmer of Hope in this Looming Armageddor,” also revealed reasons for the development.
According to the professor of Comparative Grammar and Communications in the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt, one of the reasons is that currently, there is no one common indigenous Nigerian language.
“At the moment, and perharps in the near future, no one indigenous Nigerian Language can serve as the sole medium of instructure in our schools, or official language of national communication.
“The sentiments and emotional attachments to one’s native language are still very strong to favour any one local language as lingua franca,” he said.
Another reason for the steady decline in indigenous language, he stated, is that competence in English by the Nigerian populace is also on steady decline.
More over, the Nigerian populace cannot continue to tie its destiny around a language that the majority of us people cannot speak, “unless something radical is done to improve its learning”.
In addition, Professor Ndimele continued, “The curriculum for training English Language teachers in Nigeria is overly defective, so are the products.
He concluded that currently, not much learning is taking place in schools because of the linquistic barner existing between the teacher and the pupils.
The result is that “inadequate learning culminates in low academic achievement which has obvious implications for the individual and the nation”, he said.
On solutions to the impending indigenous language extinction, Professor Ndimele’s proposition include Nigeria children must be encouraged to speak their languages.
In the same vein, linquists must also be funded to embark on aggressive documentation of some of the severally endangered indigenous languages.
There is also the need to recognise and promote regional or state-wide languages, by making them official languages in their various states or regions.
“We should use the hitherto recognised official regional language in each region or state as the medium of instruction in that region or state, while effort is made to encourage the learning of the English Language for natural communication”, he said.
Education
Ebonyi NUT Declares Indefinite Strike In Seven LGAs
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The Ebonyi State Chapterter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has declared an indefinite strike in seven local government areas in the State.
The strike action, according to the union, is due to non payment of three months salaries to some teachers in the affected local government area.
A statement issued on Thursday by the union’s secretary, Bassey Asuquo, listed the affected local government areas as Ebonyi, Edda, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ivo, Ishielu and Ohaukwu.
The statement reads, “Sequel to our earlier notice on mobilization for industrial strike action, we have thoroughly reviewed the compliance of local government chairmen regarding the clearance of our members’ salaries.
“As of the close of work today, February 5, 2025, we acknowledge that certain local government areas have cleared the salaries of our members.
“However, we regret to inform you that several local government chairmen have failed to clear the backlog of our members’ outstanding salaries.
“In response to this non-compliance, we hereby declare indefinite strike action in the following Local Government Areas: Edda, Ebonyi, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu, Ivo and Ohaukwu.
“All our state and branch officers in the affected local government areas are instructed to adhere strictly to this directive and ensure the immediate enforcement of the strike action from 12:00am on Thursday 6th February, 2025.
“This includes organizing and maintaining solidarity picket lines and monitoring the Compliance of the strike action across the affected localities”, the statement said.
The Union noted that failure of the local government chairmen to meet their obligations to its members is unacceptable and vowed not relent until its demands are met.
“We call on all members to remain steadfast and continue their support for the strike action.”
Education
LG Boss Inaugurates 11-Man Scholarship Board
The Chairman of Omuma Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Promise Reginald has inaugurated an 11- man scholarship education board headed by Dr Bigman Nwala.
Hon Reginald, while inaugurating the board at a brief ceremony held at the chairman’s chamber at Eberi on Wednesday, charged them to be fair and apolitical in the discharge of their duties.
He stated that his administration is committed to ensuring that the local government area improves the education standard of the people.
He urged them to ensure that every student of the local government origin is given equal opportunity, both the children of the poor and the rich, adding that the desire of his administration is to see that the people of Omuma are not educationally backwards.
According to him, the scholarship scheme is open to all students of Omuma origin who have gained admission into any institutions of higher learning, stressing that the essence is to ensure that his administration leaves a legacy and also encourages the youths who will take after them to be educated.
The chairman told the board that from now till December this year, the council will be sending three Omuma students to United Kingdom on over seas scholarship, and announced that the scholarship scheme will take off immediately with 10 beneficiaries.
He congratulated them on their appointments and urged them to be transparent and fair in all their dealings, stressing that they were chosen based on their track records and as well as their efforts to advance education in the area.
Earlier in his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the board,Dr Bigman Nwala thanked the chairman for the confidence reposed in them, and assured him that they will work towards realising the objectives of the board.
By: Akujobi Amadi
Education
Council Boss Charges Corps Members To Promote Peace
Corps members have been enjoined to promote, preach and practise the culture of peace and in doing so, emulate the virtues of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as an icon of peace.
The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Hon. Israel Aposi stated this yesterday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai when he addressed the 2024 Batch C Stream II corps members.
He charged the corps members whom he joined to observe the inter-platoon cultural carnival to respect the culture of the people of their host community and live in peace with them.
Continuing, the highly elated council boss further expressed deep admiration for the corps members’ ingenuity to package the rich cultural heritage of ethnic groups outside of their own, stating that from what he saw on display, Nigeria will be great again if peace, love, mutual understanding, tolerance and respect for one another thrive in the country.
Welcoming the chairman to the camp, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe appreciated him immensely for the visit, first, to motivate and inspire the corps members and secondly, to witness firsthand, the beauty and creativity of corps members as well as the positive energy they put into packaging the NYSC inter-platoon cultural carnival.
He used the occasion to enjoin the corps members to be a source of light in the various communities they are to serve by promoting decent cultural practices among the people.
At the end of the inter-platoon cultural carnival competition, Platoon 3 emerged first position; Platoon 10, second position; and Platoon 7, third position.
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