Voice of Nigeria (VON), has commemorated the 2025 International Mother Language Day with a re-commitment to preserving African languages and cultures through its programmes and services.
Representing the Director General of VON, the Director of Operations, Mr. Idris Zubairu said the International Mother Language Day continues to raise awareness of the need to preserve languages and cultures.
He added that VON would continue to broadcast in different Nigerian languages such as Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and Fululde to foster an inclusive society and improve education.
According to him, “VON’s theme for 2025 International Mother Language Day highlights the critical role that Mother Language plays in promoting social inclusion, improving education outcomes and preserving indigenous cultures. In Nigeria, we are blessed with over five hundred languages, each with its unique characteristics, nuances, and expressions, our languages are a reflection of our cultural richness and they play a vital role in improving unity, understanding, and cooperation among diverse communities.
“Voice of Nigeria has been at the forefront of promoting Nigeria’s linguistics diversity. Our broadcast has provided a platform for Nigerians to express themselves in their mother tongues and to share their stories, cultures, and traditions with the world. Despite the importance of languages in our lives, many of our Mother Languages are facing significant challenges, some of our languages are endangered with few speakers remaining, and others are struggling to adapt to the demands of modern technology and compete with dominant languages that are often used in education, business, and governance.”
Speaking on the challenges of preserving Mother Languages, he said “As we celebrate International Mother Language Day, we must also acknowledge the challenges our mother languages are facing and re-commit ourselves to promoting and preserving our linguistic heritage. We must support efforts to document, develop, and promote our mother language to provide opportunities for Nigerians to learn, speak, and appreciate their languages.
“Let’s celebrate our linguistic diversity, promote multilingualism, and preserve our cultural heritage, let’s work together to ensure our mother languages continue to thrive and play a vital role in shaping our identities, cultures, and communities,” he submitted.
Representing the Programmes Department, Mrs. Muinat Adesanya in her presentation highlighted some of VON’S programmes in different Indigenous languages and their target audience.
Firstly, she highlighted some of the programmes under cause services to be ‘In Ba Ku Ba Gida’ (Women and Development, ‘Kiwon Lafiya’ (Health Corner, ‘Noma Da Kiwi’ (Talking Agriculture), ‘Kwayar Kira’ (Hausa Culture and Heritage)
Continuing she said ‘ Igbo service has programmes such as ‘Ndu Ndigbo’ (Igbo Culture, ‘Oge Ndi Nne’ (Women and Development), ‘Aruo N’anwu Erie Na Ndo (Personality Profile) while under the Yoruba service, there are Indigenous programmes such as ‘ ‘Lojoojohun’ (Reminiscences), ‘Aye Obirin’ (Women and Development) and ‘Agbeloba’ (Talking Agriculture).
She concluded by stating that: Voice of Nigeria is rising to the roles of promoting and preserving the Nigerian languages by engaging them in fostering inclusive societies and ensuring cultural continuity, improving education, and preservation of Indigenous culture.
“Therefore, it attests to the proof that language is not merely a tool of communication but a bridge that links people to their history, traditions, and collective experiences.”
VON’s theme for the 2025 International Mother Language Day is ‘ The Role of Mother Language in fostering inclusive society, improving education and ensuring the preservation of indigenous languages.
International Mother Language Day is observed annually on February 21 to raise awareness of the value of linguistic diversity and take measures to protect these languages for future generations.
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