University of Ibadan Partners Jehovah’s Witnesses to Unveil Pidgin Dictionary in Nigeria
The University of Ibadan (UI) partnered with Jehovah’s Witnesses to unveil a Nigerian Pidgin dictionary during a two-day conference titled "Naija Na Helele; Nigerian Pidgin in the Global, Local, and In-Between Context."
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Ibadan (UI), in collaboration with Jehovah’s Witnesses, recently unveiled a comprehensive dictionary for the Nigerian Pidgin language at an event filled with excitement and academic discourse. The unveiling took place during a two-day conference themed "Naija Na Helele; Nigerian Pidgin in the Global, Local, and In-Between Context," held at the KAAF Auditorium, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan.
The conference, organized by the Naija Language Network in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Authors, Oyo Chapter, and the Institute of French Research for Africa (IFRA-Nigeria), saw the participation of over 13 other organizations, including BBC Pidgin. The event highlighted the global use of Pidgin by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who employ the language for preaching, meetings, and assemblies in various countries.
Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including the National Spokesman, Olusegun Eroyemi, and the Regional Spokesman, Gill Adekannbi, attended the event, drawing attention for their organization’s long history in translation efforts. Eroyemi shared that Jehovah’s Witnesses have been involved in translation work since 1879, with over 140 years of experience in translating various languages for Bible educational purposes. In Nigeria, the organization currently translates into 32 languages, with ongoing projects to include more minority languages.
Professor Francis Egbokhare, a linguistics expert at the University of Ibadan, spoke at the event, emphasizing the significance of Nigerian Pidgin in national development. He noted that despite the lack of official recognition, Pidgin is increasingly becoming a language of commerce and integration across West Africa.
Other dignitaries at the event included Professors Ben Ohi Elugbe, Solomon Oyetade, and Tunde Adegbola, Executive Director of the African Languages Technology Initiative, who joined members of the Nigerian Association of Authors to celebrate the linguistic milestone.
