Optimal Utilization of Indigeneous Languages: An Imperative for the Attainment of Millennium Development Goals

Abstract

This paper examines the imperative of indigenous languages in the attainment of the millennium development goal (MDG). The works argue that until indigenous languages are empowered and fully developed as our main mediums of expression, we are 'merely pursing a dead end.' Thus, the strong ties and relationship between indigenous languages and development cannot be separated. It is against this backdrop that we put forward that  literacy through indigenous languages is crucial and necessary - for majority of Nigerians who are still  illiterates and constitute the majority of indigenous peoples on which  the achievement of the MDGs in 2015 lies. A language is just more than a tool of communication. It is a channel of values, traditions and cultures. It is therefore obvious that communication within a human community as mobilization of such people for a specific purpose will achieve the best results when done in the popular language of the people. Nigerian indigenous languages are rich in idioms, adages, proverbs, witty expressions and figures of speech which make messages and information clear and concise. Different stakeholders who know the quintessential power of language have long before now admitted that Nigerian languages have been neglected and marginalized with its attendant under utilization, loss of value, status, relevance. A good number, in fact three-quarter of the Nigerian languages are yet to be used as vehicles of instruction. Sadly, a lot of these languages are yet to be documented and described. Indigenous peoples also have the right to benefit from the MDGs and fulfill the aspirations contained in the UN Millennium Declaration. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) recently observed that indigenous issues are often absent from the MDGs and poverty reduction processes and from the MDGs reports and poverty reduction strategy papers. Indigenous peoples were not formally involved in the formulation of the Goals and until now they have been largely absent from developing MDG strategies and indicators as well as from the monitoring and reporting process.

This paper therefore advocates the use of current Information Technology (IT) resources to mobilize people and disseminate the information to people in their local languages. Such idea was used in India through ‘simputer project’ which makes information available to people in the rural settings using their local languages at an affordable rate. This ICT facility has been confirmed to be advantageous to the underdeveloped, undeveloped and developing countries where illiteracy, maternal and infant mortality, preventable diseases, epidemics, poverty, unemployment, civil unrest etc are still on the increase. Besides, speech synthesis – the ability of computer to create spoken words in an audio form in such a way that it is similar to human speech using diphones, can equally be used. With these methods the goals of MDG is made known to the grassroot people in their local languages.