The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has unveiled the ‘Map of Nigerian Languages’ as part of its activities to promote and preserve indigenous languages in the country.
Unveiled at the apex library’s annual event held every February 21 in commemoration of the UNESCO’s International Mother Tongue Day, the map details in each state the languages spoken therein. Perhaps, the most conspicuous observation is the fact that there are many more languages being spoken in states in the northern Nigerian than just Hausa; in addition to the fact that in some south-eastern states, like Ebonyi speak two other languages besides Igbo language.
Speaking at the event held in collaboration with Kairos Tablets and Scrolls, the National Librarian, Professor Veronica Anunobi said the presentation of the Map, aids not just the preservation of indigenous languages but the ensures intergenerational learning – the transfer of local languages to the next generation, in line with the UNESCO objective and 2024 theme: Multicultural Education Is A Pillar of Intergenerational Learning.
Collated by the staff of the national library, Anunobi stated “the map is not complete” owing to a few challenges, such as the fact that some of the library’s staff are not necessarily indigenes of the states of collation, and thus couldn’t get the names and phonology of the languages right, in addition to their inability to capture some languages in the states.
“We are calling on the public to contact us to make their input on the map for further correction before we print and forward it to UNESCO.”
Additionally, the apex library via its state branches is collating digital presentation of Nigerian languages via digital technology.