Bayelsa moves to save Ijaw dialects from extinction

JUNE 30, 2014 

In a deliberate move not to allow Ijaw language and culture go into extinction, the Bayelsa State Government has given consideration to the introduction of Ijaw dialects into the curricula of schools in the state.

To this effect, the government is collaborating with the Centre for Niger Delta Studies of the state owned Niger Delta University to commence the process of formally incorporating Ijaw language in primary and post primary schools as from September.

The Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, said in an interview on Sunday that Governor Seriake Dickson was passionate about promoting the Ijaw language and culture.

Tuodolo said the governor had provided the political will and the wherewithal to realise the project.

He said he had visited the stakeholders at the NDU over the project to provide textbooks in Nembe, Epie/Atissa, Ogbia, Kolokuma and Mem dialects.

The commissioner, who implored them to work assiduously to meet the September 2014 deadline, reiterated that the policy of the present administration in the state was to ensure that Ijaw dialects were introduced as a subject in the schools.

He said the government was committed towards laying an enduring foundation to achieve the realisation of the project.

Tuodolo said, “Language is the first expression of a people. It is for this reason that the ministry is collaborating with the the CNDS to start the process to formally teach Ijaw language in primary and post primary schools in the state in September.

“As a Restoration Government, we will not allow our language and culture to go into extinction.”

Tuodolo lauded the stakeholders at the centre for their zeal in handling the project towards ensuring that the dreams of the government in that direction were realised.

Commenting on the development, Director, CNDS, Niger Delta University, Dr. Samuel Ibaba, commended the government for the political will to radically change the current trend towards Ijaw culture and language.

Ibaba, however, appealed for more resource persons to join the team and also to ensure that the graduates of the CNDS be offered employment to teach the language in schools.

He reasoned that if the centre’s graduates were offered automatic jobs, the development would go a long way in realising the government’s goals in saving the dialects from extinction.

SOURCE; PUNCH

http://www.punchng.com/news/bayelsa-moves-to-save-ijaw-dialects-from-extinction/