Why Indigenous Languages Must Return to Nigeria’s Classrooms — Insights from John Ngamsa’s Presentation
One of Nigeria's own researchers is warning that the country is at a turning point in its fight to maintain its cultural identity.
In a new presentation titled “Indigenous Languages Inclusion in Our Schools Curriculum: A Tool for Societal Development in Nigeria,” education advocate John Ngamsa delivered a compelling call for urgent reform in how schools handle the country’s rich linguistic heritage.
Ngamsa’s work argues that Nigeria’s indigenous languages—over 500 in number—are disappearing faster than policymakers are acting.
He describes the trend as a quiet cultural emergency, one that threatens not only identity but also education outcomes and community cohesion.
His presentation shows that while Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world, it is also at high risk of losing dozens of languages within a generation.
With examples drawn from Nigeria, Africa, and beyond, Ngamsa paints a picture of a country drifting away from its linguistic roots. He notes that states like Adamawa alone hold dozens of distinct languages, making the region a microcosm of Nigeria’s cultural wealth. Yet, as he points out, many Nigerian children now grow up unable to speak their mother tongue confidently, often learning English or pidgin as a first language.
Ngamsa presents this as a developmental setback rather than a cultural one. His analysis shows that children who learn in their mother tongue perform better in the first years of school, develop stronger comprehension skills, and show higher confidence. Local languages are already successfully incorporated into early primary education in nations like Ghana, Ethiopia, and South Africa; he claims Nigeria needs to follow suit right away.
A key section of his presentation addresses the roots of the problem. He argues that the decline of indigenous languages is not just due to globalization or modernity but also to Nigeria’s education system, which has long prioritized English as the dominant language of learning. According to Ngamsa, this approach puts young learners at a disadvantage and widens educational inequality, especially in rural areas where children speak almost no English before entering school.
His presentation highlights the emotional and cultural dimension as well. Ngamsa cites a striking reflection shared at a workshop:
“If you kill people, they will give birth to more people. But if you kill their culture and language, they are lost forever.”
The statement captured the urgency of his message and struck a deep chord with the audience.
According to Ngamsa's analysis, incorporating indigenous languages into Nigeria's curriculum has a number of benefits. These include improved literacy, stronger cultural pride, better community integration, and overall societal resilience. He argues that language is not just a communication tool—it is the foundation of worldview, values, and collective memory.
To make language inclusion practical, Ngamsa outlines strategies such as teacher training, curriculum reform, community involvement, and modern technology. He stresses the need for digital tools—apps, online dictionaries, and e-learning platforms—to preserve languages in formats young Nigerians can easily access. He points to African countries already experimenting with digital preservation as examples Nigeria can learn from.
Additionally, he makes the case that the initiative needs to go beyond classrooms and into policy, calling on the federal, state, and local governments to support indigenous language programs and guarantee that language instructors have the necessary training and motivation. He cautions that even the best plans run the risk of staying on paper in the absence of political will.
Ngamsa closes his presentation with a strong message: reviving indigenous languages is not a cultural luxury but a national responsibility. He notes that language has the power to unite communities, strengthen national identity, and enhance learning outcomes across the country. He poses the question of whether Nigeria will move quickly enough to protect its remaining linguistic legacy.
Ngamsa's work serves as a reminder of the close relationship between academic achievement and cultural preservation as education reform continues to dominate national discourse. Reconnecting children to their native tongues may be one of the most crucial actions Nigeria can take if it wants to produce a generation that is inclusive, self-assured, and culturally rooted.
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