Abuja – Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) on Wednesday said that the institute was set for its 2016 indigenous language programme.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Caleb Nor, the Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary in Abuja.
Ayakoroma said that in line with its mandate of mobilising Nigerians towards a culture-oriented lifestyle, the institute was ready for the 2016 edition of its annual 4-week Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP).
He said that the programme would run from August 2 to August 30 at the institutes’ head office in Abuja for free.
According to him, the programme, which is in line with the Institute’s mandate of harnessing culture for national development seeks to create awareness on the need to speak our indigenous languages.
“The programme is also to create and encourage a sense of pride in our indigenous languages, foster national pride, identity, and preserve our languages as well as stimulate creativity in science and technology through the use of indigenous languages.’’
“NILP is expected to feature six languages which are Efik, Gbagyi, Igbo, Hausa, Tiv and Yoruba.’’
He said that the programme would run concurrently in Akure, Yenagoa, Owerri, Katsina, Ilorin, and Yola.
NICO’s NILP, which started with three major languages, was designed to educate young children on different indigenous languages during the summer holidays.
The programme had been extended to accommodate government agencies, private groups, embassies and interested individuals. (NAN)