The Nigerian Army and the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) on Friday 31st May 2019, commenced a 3-month collaboration training programme of teaching indigenous Nigerian languages to soldiers and interested members of their families at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja.
Declaring the training open, the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General JGK Myam expressed appreciation to NICO for kick-starting its maiden edition of the Nigerian Army indigenous language programme in the barracks noting that “the programme could not have come at more auspicious time than now when our indigenous languages are seriously threatened with extinction and urgent steps need to be taken to address the situation”.
He disclosed that the objectives of the language in the barracks are in tandem with the new language policy of the Nigerian Army which was recently introduced by the COAS, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai.
According to the Garrison Commander, “The language policy seeks to promote multi-lingualism in the Nigerian Army.
“The policy is also designed to foster spirit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering, civil-military relations, increased understanding between the Nigerian Army and host civilian communities in areas of operation and to assist officers and soldiers to perform their duties professionally.
Furthermore, Major General Myam disclosed that soldiers who after the three month programme desire to further learning in Computer applications on Nigerian Languages, can proceed to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and register.
He said, “The policy is that after studying any of the indigenous NIGERIAN Languages, any personnel who sits for a CBT exam of the NARC and passes will be entitled to Language Allowance. which has been provided by the Army High Command.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr. Louis Onomola, represented by the Director Culture and Orientation, Mr. Alex Omeje commended the Nigerian Army for the collaborative efforts in reviving Nigeria’s indigenous languages saying the programme is designed to create awareness on the need to learn, speak and proudly use Nigerian languages in our everyday interactions.
He said, “The priority attention given to Nigerian language programme is borne out of the fact that language plays a pivotal role in the promotion, preservation, and propagation of culture.
“Our indigenous languages can also foster national unity and integration if Nigerians embrace the programme. We must therefore take all necessary steps to ensure our languages do not go into extinction as it will critically affect the culture”.
The three major Nigerian languages, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa are the languages to be started with while others would be added in future.
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