A National Language Policy Implementation Summit, held on November 28, 2025, has called for the immediate reinstatement of the National Language Policy (NLP) 2022, which was recently cancelled by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The summit, organized by the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan, and 9ja Language Network, in partnership with the Linguistics Association of Nigeria, brought together leading Nigerian linguists, scholars, educationists, cultural advocates, language associations, and community representatives.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the participants observed that mother-tongue-based multilingual education is globally recognized as the most effective foundation for literacy, cognitive development, cultural continuity, and academic performance.
The summit noted that the cancellation of the NLP 2022 contradicts established empirical findings and undermines Nigeria’s educational goals, national cohesion, and cultural survival.
The participants expressed concern that many indigenous languages, particularly in minority communities, are critically endangered, and the removal of mother-tongue instruction accelerates language extinction.
The summit resolved to demand the reversal of the cancellation of the NLP 2022 and called for the immediate reinstatement of the provisions allowing indigenous Nigerian languages to be used as the medium of instruction at the early levels of education.
A petition is to be drafted and submitted to the House Committee on Education and other relevant committees of the National Assembly, requesting the reversal of the cancellation of the NLP 2022.
The summit also called for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder Technical Committee to coordinate drafting, data collation, advocacy, and submission processes.
The participants committed to sustained advocacy and community mobilization, generating petitions, passing resolutions, and mobilizing at local and national levels to build public support for restoring the NLP 2022.
The summit also emphasized the need for engagement with media and public enlightenment, promoting public understanding of the benefits of mother-tongue education.
The development of language resources, including orthographies, teaching materials, terminology lists, digital resources, and NLP/AI tools for Nigerian languages, was also highlighted as a key area for support.
The participants stressed the importance of inclusive communication, translating key documents, promotional materials, and advocacy briefs into major Nigerian languages to ensure broad national reach and inclusion.
The summit concluded that the future of Nigeria’s indigenous languages is inseparable from the future of Nigerian education, national identity, cultural survival, and national development.
The cancellation of the NLP 2022, the summit noted, represents a major setback to national development, and called on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and all relevant institutions to urgently reinstate the policy.
The summit organizers are to convene follow-up meetings at regular intervals to monitor progress, harmonize regional efforts, and strengthen collaboration among language associations and other relevant bodies.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage for present and future generations.
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