Nigeria’s indigenous languages to face extinction within 70 years – Linguists

Linguists estimate that if current non-transmission trends persist, many of Nigeria’s more than 500 indigenous languages could face severe endangerment or extinction within 50 to 70 years. Children, parents and experts said urban lifestyles had reduced children’s exposure to indigenous languages and weakened intergenerational transmission. Maimuna Egigogo, 12, a resident of Kubwa, said that she understood Nupe but could not speak it because her parents communicated with her mainly in English.

She said she frequently interacted with her grandparents, aunt and uncle before moving from Bida, Niger, to Abuja three years ago. “But since I came to Abuja, everyone around me, including my parents, speaks only English, so I think that is why I cannot speak my dialect,” she explained. Amina Bello, a mother of three, said she did not speak Ebira with her children because she believed English would give them educational and social advantages.

Benjamin Mitu, from Plateau, said he and his wife adopted English at home because they spoke different indigenous languages and feared confusing their children. “I do not want a situation where I speak my indigenous language while my wife speaks hers and the children end up learning neither language well,” he said. Stephen Adeniyi, another child, said he spoke only English because his parents worked long hours, leaving him mostly with school and domestic staff who communicated in English.

“My parents do not have the time to teach me our indigenous language because of work, so I do not really blame them,” he said. Rebecca Ibrahim said preserving her indigenous language was a deliberate family policy, adding that she spoke her local dialect with her children at home. She said she also encouraged her children to visit their grandparents during holidays to strengthen their understanding and use of their indigenous language.

“My parents taught me our indigenous language and they are still helping me to teach my children,” Ibrahim said. Emmanuel David, an Itsekiri, said he would struggle to converse with his parents if they stopped speaking English and switched completely to their indigenous language. Michael Peter recalled growing up where indigenous-language use, was compulsory, while folktales, songs, proverbs and regular visits to ancestral communities strengthened cultural knowledge.

Peter urged parents to become more intentional a…