Member representing Ifelodun, Oyun and Offa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Rafiu Ibrahim, has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to encourage pupils and students in the country to make use of indigenous languages in their daily interactions.

He stated that the Federal Government should make indigenous languages part of the curriculum of both primary and secondary schools in the country.

He spoke during the third edition of the Nigerian indigenous language programme organised by the North Central zonal office, National Institute for Cultural Orientation in Ilorin on Wednesday.

He added that speaking of local languages should be encouraged in all parts of the country.

Ibrahim, who was represented by Alhaji Rauf Akogun, also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund NICO so that it could carry out its mandate effectively.

The legislator also called on NICO not to allow foreign languages to threaten Nigerian indigenous languages.

Executive Secretary, NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, raised the alarm that Nigerian indigenous languages are on the verge of extinction.

He said greater resort to Nigerian languages in schools and by other Nigerians would promote national cohesion and stability.

He said it was unsavoury that many Nigerians do not take pride in speaking their indigenous language.

According to him, the development has endangered indigenous languages.

He stated that the NICO initiated a programme in which seven Nigerian languages – Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Nupe, Tiv, Izon and Batonum were taught to revive Nigerian’s languages and make them veritable vehicle for the transmission of the country’s cultural heritage.

He said, "It is in line with all the important role of languages in the socio-political development of a people that NICO, in line with its statutory responsibility of promoting positive cultural values and harnessing culture for sustainable national development, initiated the language programme.

"This is in response to the disheartening reports concerning the status of our languages; and to create a platform to enable Nigerians speak and use our indigenous languages in all facets of our national life."

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. David Bamidele, called on parents to focus more on cultural re-orientation of their children to restore the lost values.

He noted that parents had deviated from teaching their children Nigeria’s lifestyle, which promotes among other things, discipline, tolerance and modesty.

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