Kwara State University Wikimedia Fan Club Celebrated the International Mother Language Day

The Wikimedia Fan Club Kwara State University on Wednesday 21st of March 2024, celebrated the International Mother Language Day in conjunction with the National Library of Nigeria, Kwara State Branch. The event which took place at the National Library Complex at Ilorin, was aimed at promoting the indigenous languages spoken within the host communities in Kwara state.

Four indigenous languages, constituting Batonou, Fulfude, Nupe and Yoruba, which are spoken by the indigenes the state were the major languages of communication at the event. The programme was a joint effort of the team of librarians under the leadership of the Ag. Director of the National Library, Mallam Mustapha, as well as the executive members of the Kwara State University Wikimedia Fan Club 2023/2024 academic session, and the Staff Adviser of the Club, Dr. Mariam Titilope Olugbodi.

To enhance easy communication at the event using these indigenous languages, four indigenous language experts were invited as facilitators to anchor the event. A professor of Educational Technology at the federal university situated in the state, University of Ilorin, Professor Nafisat Adedokun-Shittu, was the facilitators of the Yoruba language. Professor Nafisat delivered a lecture on the significance of using the mother language in day-to-day interactional and transactional exchanges.

Her lecture was delivered in Yoruba language. According to her, “since the occasion is meant to celebrate our mother language, our indigenous languages should be the language of interaction”. Dr. Ibrahim Burour of Kwara State University, was the Batonu facilitator. While Hajia Fatimah of the National Library and Mallam Nuhu of the Accounting Section of the state Ministry of Finance were the Fulfude and Nupe Facilitators.

The members of the audience that honoured the occasion constituted university undergraduates, who are also members of the Kwara State University Wikimedia Fan Club; primary school pupils and secondary school students of state and private-owned schools, including students of St. Barnabas Secondary School; librarians, members of academic faculties from the tertary institutions in the state, teachers and library users. Apart from the lectures delivered by the indigenous language experts, other activities that marked the event include poetry renditions and drama performances by the primary school pupils and secondary school students invited to grace the occasion.

A notable incident worthy of mention at the event was the presentation of cash award to a students of St. Barnabas Junior Secondary School, by name, Usman Muhammad, who was able to speak three of the four indigenous languages, Nupe, Fulfude and Yoruba languages. The young man demonstrated proficiency in other indigenous languages spoken within his community aside his native language Nupe. This triggered a lot if positive reactions from members of the audience. At the end of the day, the Ag. Director of the National Library, Mallam Mustapha, Professor Nafisat, Dr. Burour and the Wikimedia Fan Club Kwara State University, jointly presented the student a cash award of #30,000 equivalent of $25.