IWD: Women Tasks To Champion Campaign Seeking Development Of Indigenous Languages

 

By

Awajis Josiah-Chijindu 

In commemorating the international women's day celebrated March 8 every year, a Nigerian Linguist and Indigenous Language Advocate, Josiah Egbilika has tasked women all over the world to be at the forefront of campaign for the development and sustenance of Indigenous Languages.

With this year's theme, invest in women: Accelerate progress which focuses on diversity and empowerment, Mr. Egbilika stated that one of the ways women's progress acceleration can be said to be holistic is when their identity is not lost and if language is lost, no matter the amount of  empowerment, there will still be a missing gap.

The Indigenous Language Advocate urged women to begin the language campaign by carrying out sensitization and encouraging the continuous speaking of their languages in their every day activities including to their children and wards.

Mr Egbilika appreciated the fact that women are coming out and making lots of impact in the society, however stated that women should start creating programmes using the indigenous languages or programmes that are also tailored towards encouraging the development of indigenous languages.

The Linguist urged women to also speak out on the issue of language development same way they are speaking out about neglect and marginalization. 

He underscored that women have the capacity to change a cause, so,they should lay their voices towards ensuring that their indigenous languages do not go into extinction.