Languages


SPEECH OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE  WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF NIGERIAN MINORITY LANGUAGES ORGANIZED BY CONNECDA ON THE 6TH JUNE, 2016 AT DADIN KOWA YOUTH CENTRE, JOS, PLATEAU STATE.

PROTOCOL

I am delighted to attend the Conference and Workshop on National Strategy for the Development and Preservation of Nigerian Minority Languages organized by the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association (CONECDA), holding here in the city of Jos.


I am particularly pleased with the choice of Jos Plateau to host this summit, to chart a course for the future of the Minority Languages because we hold a large stock of Minority Language groupings. I understand seated here are representatives of over 300 Minority Ethnic Communities in Nigeria, this clearly shows that when aggregated in a common cause, the minorities as so called are the Majority.

On behalf of the Government and good people of Plateau State, I welcome you to Jos, the Capital of Plateau State and of course the Home of Peace and Tourism.

Let me take the liberty of this address to say unequivocally that the spread and population of the entire ethnic Minorities in this country represents the strength of our nation. Our multicultural and multi-religious diversity find expression in our aggregate existence and our country finds its corporate existence in our congregated mass.

  
We have diverse human and natural resource endowments located deep in the enclaves of our natural habitations and these are continuously discovered, exploited and exported. On account of this also, our identities are further acknowledged globally far beyond the shores of our Country.

Permit me to at this point appreciate the Advisory Committee of the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association (CONAECDA), for organizing this workshop on National Strategy for the Development and Preservation of Nigerian Minority Languages which is timely, as some minority languages are at the verge of extinction.

In Nigeria today, studies have also shown that both language Murder and Language Suicide are taking place daily; the English Language and dominant ethnic languages are continuously absorbing the minority language groups and these minority groups are also gradually loosing their identities on account of a lack of deliberate action to preserve it.


 My understanding is that this workshop is aimed at bringing stakeholders together towards developing a national minority language development and preservation plan; this I believe will go a long way in preserving ethnic minority Languages that are fast getting into extinction.

As a government our doors will remain open to identify with all genuine groups interested in the preservation of our rich cultural heritage and identities. The APC Rescue Administration in the State has in the last one year work assiduously for the peace and progress of the State so that the displacements of communities from their ancestral lands with all its traditional and cultural benefits are preserved and the developments of these communities in their united habitats are enhanced.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Hospitality has also been mandated to work closely with ethnic groups in the State to promote peaceful co-existence and integration through Cultural and Traditional Festivals, and by so doing further enhancing the preservation of all languages on the Plateau.

  
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I call on all minority languages to encourage the use of minority languages both within the family and communities; where the spouses speak different languages, the children should be encouraged to learn both, after all, the child in his or her growing years has the capacity to learn up to six (6) different languages through interaction besides formal learning.

I believe at the end of this Workshop, a Strategic Document on the preservation and development of Nigeria minority languages will be developed and implemented, I am sure it will be comprehensive, to serve as a model for the preservation of other African languages.



On this note, it is now my pleasure to declare the workshop on National Strategy for the Development and Preservation of Nigerian Minority Languages open, to the glory of God and benefit of humanity.

Thank you and God bless us all.

Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor



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