Author urges parents to teach children, wards their languages
NAN-H-41
Culture
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Abuja, Oct. 28, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Oga Enoitse, an author, on Saturday in Abuja, advised parents to teach their children and wards their local dialects to save Nigerian languages from going into extinction.
Enoitse gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of the launching of her book: “Proverbs and Alphabets of Idoma, Translation and Moral Implications.’’
“Even the French and Germans teach their children their languages; let us not allow our languages go into extinction, especially the minority languages.
Do not let them get lost, If you can, write books on the languages, pictorial books that will get the children attracted, our languages and culture must not be lost,“ she stressed.
She said she was motivated to write the book because she realised that proverbs were part of spoken languages, which were going into extinction.
She stressed the need to propagate local proverbs, besides her passion for its usage, also motivated her to write the book.
According to Enoitse, proverbs are words of wisdom that are used by wise and intelligent persons.
She added that it was disheartening that only the elders that appreciate their value these days.
Enoitse said that proverbs contained the culture and history of the people, which she said is getting lost to modern society, hence the need to document them and save them from getting lost.
“There is need to document proverbs and alphabets of every tribe in the country, because if you are not conversant with the alphabets, you cannot speak the language nor write it,’’ Enoitse said.
She, however, expressed optimism that her book would not only give the Idoma speaking tribe the opportunity to learn the language, but Nigerians and the world at large.
The book reviewer, Prof. Aba Ejembi said he was confident that the book would preserve the Idoma cultural heritage.
Ejembi noted that the Idoma nation was blessed and endowed with many resources and a rich culture that its people should cherish, and called on them to be proud to identify with their roots.
He stressed the need to preserve every indigenous Nigerian culture and language in order to secure and preserve the country’s future.
Ejembi recommended the book for everyone, interested in learning and preserving culture, especially the Idoma people; and also recommended its inclusion into Benue State school curriculum.
Elder Emmanuel Okoro, a chieftain of the APC, described the author of the book as a generous woman, who devoted her time to help orphans, widows and the needy.
Okoro observed that in spite of the author’s commitment in Church and philanthropic works, still found time to write the book.
Most guests at the launch, who spoke with NAN, said the book should serve as a dictionary to the future and present generation of youths and advised parents to take such literature seriously. (NAN)
EEM/DOR/AFA
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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Felix Ajide