NICO seeks establishment of indigenous language clubs in NYSC camps

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, has called for the establishment of the Institute’s Indigenous Language Clubs in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, camps nationwide.

Executive Secretary of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye made the call during the commencement of four weeks free training of the Institute’s Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, NILP, at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa Abuja

Otunba Ajiboye who was represented by a Chief Cultural Officer in NICO, Mrs Helen Mfongang said the training which is being carried out in NYSC Orientation Camps across the country is to assist corps members understand the language of their host communities during their service year.

“The National Institute for Cultural Orientation is a Parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, saddled with the primary responsibility of promoting positive cultural values and harnessing culture for national development” He stated

According to him, the Institute also has the mandate to train cultural officers, motivators as well as communicators who would be grounded in Nigerian cultural realities and the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) as a flagship programme of the Institute, was conceptualized due to the lack of interest and gradual decline of Nigerian indigenous languages especially among our teeming youths.

In his words “the Institute has over the years successfully organized three editions of the Language Programme; August, Weekend and the Barracks editions. These editions are held simultaneously across fifteen locations nationwide; Abuja, Lagos, six Zonal and seven State Offices. This initiative by the Institute does not only celebrate our nation’s cultural diversity but also serves as a platform to foster unity amongst us”.

“We launched the pilot edition of NILP in NYSC on the February 29, 2024, the immense success we have achieved thus far has propelled our being here today and it is our desire that this sensitization will help stir your interest in learning our indigenous languages. I am elated to inform you that the Institute has carefully lined up professionally qualified resource persons to teach Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages online via the Whatsapp and Microsoft (MS) Word platforms. The purpose of the forms you are filling is to get your Whatsapp numbers in order to add you to our language groups for Online classes” the NICO Boss explained.

Otunba Ajiboye expressed the hope that  at the end of the programme, participants would be well equipped with basic communication knowledge in the languages they have chosen to learn.

He also expressed optimism  that the NYSC Management would further approve the establishment of NICO Indigenous Language Clubs for continuity at Community Development Service (CDS) levels which shall serve as a platform to broaden Corps Members knowledge of the languages already being taught.

“It is heartwarming to reiterate that the previous editions of this collaborative effort with the NYSC have recorded tremendous success and it’s on that note that I wish to sincerely express my profound gratitude to the DG – NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and his Management team for sharing our vision and accepting to partner with NICO to promote the teaching of the Nigerian Indigenous languages towards restoring interest in the knowledge and speaking of our indigenous languages as well as safeguard them from going into extinction”

“As we embark on this journey to explore and embrace the potency embedded in the unique multi-cultural dynamics of Nigerian languages, let us remember that through language, we connect, communicate and strengthen the bond that holds us together as one nation” He added

In a message, the FCT NYSC Coordinator, Mr Samson Ateli described the four weeks training for the corps members as a welcomed development.

Mr Ateli said NYSC would continue to collaborate with necessary Agencies aimed at empowering corps members after their service.

Some of the corps members also expressed the hope that the four weeks Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme would go a long way in communicating with people of their host communities .