Mrs Kokona Nkanga, the Proprietress of a provate academy in Abuja, has tasked parents and government at all levels to protect and preserve indigenous languages in children to help promote multilingual education in the country.
Nkanga made the call during the Cultural Day/International Mother Language celebration on Wednesday in Abuja.
The theme of 2023 International Mother Language Day, organised by UNESCO, is titled: “Multilingual Education – A necessity to transform education.”
According to her, language remains the greatest identity that anybody has and also the vehicle of transmitting civilisation.
“Language is a gift from God and so we should honour it; we can only do this with the children at tender age and we should instil culture in the children now.
“If we want to promote our identity then we must preserve our indigenous language. There are many things that are better expressed in the mother tongue than with foreign language.
“Language protection and preservation is anchored on international knowledge systems. Parents, government at all levels must be involved in the protection and preservation of our indigenous languages,” Nkanga said.
The Secretary-General, National Commission, UNESCO, Mr Olagunju Idowu, in his goodwill message, said the occasion would go a long way in sensitising and creating awareness among students on the importance of mother tongue in our society.
Idowu, who was represented by Mr Paul Omale, the Sector Secretary, Communication and Information Sector, NATCOM-UNESCO, said UNESCO believes in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable society.
According to him, it will explore and interrogate the potential of multilingualism in transforming education in the country.
Omale said globally about 40 per cent of the population do not have access to education in the languages of their interactions.
He added that International Mothers Day recognised that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion and Sustainable Development Goals focused on leaving no one behind.
Mr Emmanuel Emerenini, the school Admin Officer, said indigenous languages should be reintroduced in the primary and secondary school curriclumn to enhance multilingual education.
He said the event was imperative to draw people’s attention to the issues indigenous people are going through and what the government and state actors should do.