“The Rivers State Government would do everything possible to promote indigenous Languages in the State”.
The Commissioner of Women Affairs, Dr Roseline Apawari Uranta made the assertion when the Bible Society of Nigeria Rivers/Bayelsa Area BSN led by its Chairman, Elder Omoni Ayo-Tamuno BSN-SM paid a courtesy visit to her in her office.
Dr Uranta said “as a positive step to encourage Rivers Languages, the State Governor, Dr Sim Fubara, in all Executive Council Meetings will always call a member to pray in his or her native dialect”.
She said that the governor is very passionate about the promotion of the native language and that he being from the Fubara Family in Opobo that is championing the teaching of the Ibani dialect”
The Commissioner added that “the Governor will always support any group that encourages the teaching and preserving of our local languages.”
Dr Uranta said that “the efforts of the BSN to translate Nigerian languages from the Holy Bible is a worthy venture to always promote our tradition”, adding that “we are known and are identified by our native languages and it therefore behoves on every one to speak his or her native or mother tongue”.
The Commissioner thanked the Society for the visit and pledged to support the Society at all times, saying that she would identify and attend the forthcoming Life Members Conference scheduled to take place at Okrika on October 3, 2024.
Earlier in his speech, the Area Chairman, Elder Omoni Ayo-Tamuno had congratulated the Commissioner on her appointment and thanked the Governor for appointing one of their Special Member as a Member of his Cabinet.
Elder Ayo-Tamuno, who commended the governor for promoting “our mother tongue”, said that “this deliberate effort will save many of our native languages from gradually going into extinction.”
The Chairman further said that “it is regrettable to note that out of 23 indigenous Rivers Languages, five have gone extinct.”
He stated that the Society would continue to pray for the present administration led Dr Sim Fubara in order to liberate the state from the hands of selfish individuals who want to play god.
