As the global community marks this year’s International Mother Language Day with the theme, “Youth Voices on multilingual education”, which highlights the crucial role of young people in defending, revitalizing, and promoting languages through digital tools, AI, and education to ensure linguistic diversity is maintained and valued, parents in this part of the world have been asked to teach their children their local language as it is part of their identity.
Speaking on the essence of the day, a stakeholder in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Atuegbu-Dangana, while commending the global community for setting aside a day to celebrate indigenous languages, condemned the attitude of some parents who prioritize foreign languages over their native dialects, stressing that such practices endanger the survival of indigenous languages, urging parents to make deliberate efforts to teach their children their local language to prevent cultural erosion and ensure that future generations remain connected to their roots.
Mr Atuegbu-Dangana further encouraged schools, communities, and cultural organizations to promote the use of indigenous languages through educational programs, cultural activities, and everyday communication, stressing that preserving mother tongue is a collective responsibility necessary for sustaining the rich cultural heritage of the people.
Also speaking, a parent, Mrs Chisom Nweke, emphasized the need for people, especially Ndi Igbo, to teach their children their native language, describing mother tongue as a key component of a people’s identity, and maintained that the ability of children to speak their language fluently fosters pride in their heritage and strengthens family and community bonds.
