The Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, has commended the efforts of participants of the just concluded NICO’s Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP).
He gave the commendation during the closing ceremony of the Institute’s annually organized Nigerian Indigenous language Programme, tagged “August Special”, a month long indigenous language training programme, which holds every August. The closing ceremony was held at the Institute’s headquarters, on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025.
While delivering his remarks, Otunba Ajiboye harped on the importance of the indigenous language training initiative which he noted, keeps our human heritage from going extinct. This is because, our language is our identity.
Speaking further, he congratulated the participants and praised their remarkable turnout for this year’s edition of the language programme. He highlighted the programme’s important role in promoting family bonds, cultural identity and national unity through the learning and speaking of our indigenous languages.
Furthermore, he emphasized on the psychology of language, noting that understanding a language enhances comprehension, which promotes diplomacy and the appreciation of proverbs and idioms.
The various cultural presentation by the graduating participants of the indigenous language training programme showcased the richness of Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, with the Yoruba group performing greetings, numbers recitation, and songs, while the Igbo group presented songs, greetings, and the naming of parts of the body in Igbo language.
In the other presentations, the Tiv group, recited the Tiv alphabets and months of the year while the Gbagyi group combined greetings with a short market scene drama in Gbagyi.
The Hausa language participants, impressed, with greetings, numbers and days of the week, and the Efik participants concluded with songs and various introductions in Efik language.
Outstanding participants were given awards with Yahaya Ibrahim Musa emerging overall best in Yoruba, Kamaradeen Nana Aisha, Igbo, Odoh Margaret, Hausa and Tiv, while Vincent Ojoma and Dangana Hassan Musa were the overall best in Efik and Gbagyi languages respectively.
Certificates of participation were presented to all participants by the Institute’s Executive Secretary, who also commended the commitment of the learners of the Nigerian indigenous languages, emphasizing that their efforts would go a long way in reviving and sustaining our indigenous languages.
In his closing remarks, the Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Segun Adegbaju, applauded the participants for their discipline, enthusiasm and progress throughout the training programme. He assured the participants and guests that future editions of the NILP will be more impactful and far-reaching.
