The National Library and UNESCO on Thursday launched a pilot project on the preservation of disappearing indigenous languages in Taraba State. 

The national librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Professor Chinwe Anunobi, during the launching ceremony, said the initiative was aimed at revitalising indigenous languages in the country, which were on the verge of extinction. 

She said Taraba State was selected for the pilot project because of its rich ethnic diversity and some of the languages in the state that are facing the threat of extinction. 

“This project is supported by UNESCO, and it is aimed at preserving, revitalising, and promoting the use of a vast array of indigenous languages in Taraba State and Nigeria in general,” she said.

According to Anunobi, the preliminary survey on the Nigerian indigenous language map conducted by the National Library has indicated a red flag on indigenous languages in Taraba State with a high tendency of extinction. 

She, however, called on the Taraba State government to build local capacity by training linguistic and cultural custodians and youth in the state on language documentation and preservation. 

On his part, Stephen Onyekwelu, UNESCO representative, in his address, said language plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage in all societies, while adding that promoting indigenous language preservation and education is important for achieving sustainability and national development. 

“Nigeria, like many other African countries, has continued to experience a decline in spoken languages. There are over 500 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria with their distinct languages, but only three of these languages, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, are widely spoken. 

“Many other languages in Nigeria are on the verge of going extinct, and therefore stakeholders and members of the academia were brought together under this project to address the problem,” he said.