ABU Hosts International Conference on Indigenous African Languages for Development

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, through its Department of African Languages and Cultures, organized an International Conference focused on the significance of indigenous languages in sustainable development. Held at the CBN Center of Excellence on the university's main campus, the conference featured the theme, "Indigenous African Languages as Instruments for Viable Development."

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kabiru Bala, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, addressed the conference, noting that indigenous languages should be tools for national identity and development. Prof. Bala emphasized the need for tertiary institutions to integrate local languages in communication, using English and Arabic letters to strengthen local identity.

The conference provided a platform for discussions, with Dr. Shuaibu Hassan, Head of the Department of African Languages and Cultures, highlighting the importance of fostering indigenous languages in Nigeria’s educational system, as supported by the 1999 Constitution.

In a keynote presentation titled, "Nation, Language, and National Identity in Nigerian and Nigerien Hausa Rap Music," Prof. Abdallah Uba Adamu from Bayero University explored the role of RAP music in reflecting and preserving cultural identity. Prof. Adamu pointed to language nationalism as essential for maintaining linguistic diversity, noting that Hausa has largely dominated the region’s indigenous languages.

Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, represented by Higher and Vocational Education Commissioner Alhaji Isah Muhammad Musa, praised the conference’s role in enhancing awareness of the socio-economic potential of African languages, pledging support for similar initiatives.

The conference concluded with a question-and-answer session and group photograph, drawing participation from scholars across Northern Nigeria.