NINLAN to Begin Global Online Learning of Nigerian Languages

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba.

The National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) said it has finalized modalities to globally broadcast teachings in indigenous Nigerian languages leveraging its newly acquired, state-of-the-art online language laboratory and digital e-learning studio.

The Executive Director of NINLAN, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, disclosed this on Thursday during the institution’s 8th Matriculation ceremony, held at its main campus in Ovom, Obingwa Local Government Area, near Aba, Abia.

Onuoha said the institution’s language laboratory with many suits and studios has been prepared to ensure Nigerians and foreign nationals desiring to learn Nigerian languages with its culture get the required training needed for language proficiency.

He said the institution’s e-learning studio which was completed on Wednesday would ensure NINLAN’s language teachers will be transmitting courses in different languages to a global audience.

He said registrations on its portal by individuals will give them access to join the real-time online language classes.

“Nigeria wants to do a cultural renaissance, a cultural reawakening so that Nigerians who have forgotten their roots will begin to think home.” He said.

Onuoha said the aim of the initiative is to strengthen language teaching, translation, digital scholarship and multi-lingual research while ensuring NINLAN graduates are equipped with technological competence needed for today’s world.

The Rector thanked the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa for birthing ideas that has began regenerating NINLAN and Nigeria’s education landscape.

He lauded the newly introduced idea which waives writing of Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board Examinations (JAMBE) for candidates willing to study languages is a very welcome development that would help improve language studies.

He said the institution partners with UNESCO to ensure that endangered Nigerian languages are codified and preserved for future learners.

Onuoha warned Nigerian youth to avoid neo-colonialism through the English language by learning their local languages early and speaking them while encouraging the new students to be disciplined and law-abiding to ensure they graduated in with good grades..

The JAMB Coordinator, Abia state, Dr Celestine Agoziem, who represented the JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, thanked the institution’s management’s feats that had kept it moving.

Agoziem urged the students to tell their colleagues that anybody wishing to study education currently would no longer write JAMB.to enter the course at NINLAN.

He urged the matriculating students to make a career of their various areas of study in order to make NINLAN proud.

Chukwuebuka Martins and Juliet Eze who are studying education at postgraduate levels thanked God for ensuring their admission was successful and expressed their gladness for being admitted to study in NINLAN.

They promised to uphold the guiding principles of the institution and to work hard to attain enviable heights that will mark them out in their various fields.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)