Professor Joseph Ushie of the University of Uyo, has called for an urgent review of the national language policy to delineate specific functional domains for indigenous languages, while recommending English language for official communications and interactions with non-native speakers only.
Ushie, the 103rd inaugural lecturer of the University of Uyo, harped on revitalizing indigenous languages and cultural heritage in Nigeria to forge a robust and unified national identity amidst the challenges of globalization.
Speaking on the theme “How Really Post Colonial are ‘Post Colonial’ Studies in Nigeria,” Professor Ushie, a scholar of General Stylistics and Literary Criticism in the Department of English, outlined a comprehensive roadmap for preserving Nigeria’s linguistic and cultural diversity against globalizing forces.
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The University Don, whose research encompasses English language studies, linguistics, literature, cultural studies, history, and education, argued that the term “postcolonial” inadequately reflects Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with colonialism’s lingering effects. Instead, he suggested that “neocolonial” has given a more accurate description of the nation’s condition, marked by continued economic dependence and cultural subjugation.
In his lecture, Ushie critically examined Nigeria’s socio-political and economic landscape since independence, challenging the prevailing academic nomenclature and reiterated his advocacy for the redefinition of Nigerian studies under “Neocolonial Studies.”
Professor Ushie, who is also Dean , Faculty of Arts of the University , emphasized the impracticality of immediately replacing English with indigenous languages across all domains in Nigeria due to its multilingual nature. However, he called for an urgent revision of the national language policy to delineate specific functional domains for indigenous languages, restricting English to official communications and interactions with non-native speakers.
“True post-colonial societies and advanced economies avoid using foreign languages for intra-group communication among those who share a native language”. He noted
Highlighting the threat of language extinction predicted by UNESCO over a decade ago, Professor Ushie stressed the importance of research and documentation to preserve Nigeria’s indigenous languages.
He commended the Ogori League of Professors in Kogi State and scholars under the Nigerian Languages Project, led by Professor Imelda Icheji Udoh, for their preservation efforts. He urged other ethno-linguistic groups to follow suit by developing orthographies and vocabularies for their languages and called on the government to support these initiatives through writing and translation projects.
The Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors advocated for a cultural policy promoting the study of onomastics—the origins and philosophy of names—and campaigns encouraging the use of value-bearing indigenous names.
“Many Nigerian names were either derogatory versions presented to colonial masters by unfriendly neighbors or misspelled by colonialists, rendering them meaningless”. He said
He also called for the unbundling of linguistics departments in higher institutions to create separate departments for specific indigenous languages, facilitating deeper research into African oral heritage.
To keep Nigeria’s languages alive, Professor Ushie called for the preservation, documentation, digitization, and promotion of oral literary heritage, including folktales, songs, and proverbs. He suggested establishing grants, prizes, and awards to stimulate interest among young people in these oral performances, which could also serve as a source of income.
Addressing the impact of military rule on Nigeria’s intellectual community, Ushie called for the rehabilitation of university lecturers through compensatory reparations to reverse the brain drain and “japa” syndrome. He praised the Federal Government for recognizing the contributions of Nigerian creative writers by naming streets after them and urged state governments to follow suit.
However, Professor Ushie warned of an impending socio-economic implosion if the government fails to address the hardships facing Nigerians. He urged the adoption of Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha—active non-violence—as a strategy for mass mobilization against oppression. He appealed to the youth to strive to correct societal wrongs at home rather than seeking better opportunities abroad.
On educational reforms, Ushie highlighted the importance of history and recommended making it a compulsory subject in secondary schools and early tertiary education. He also called for a review of the educational policy that favors sciences and technology over the arts, humanities, and social sciences, emphasizing the later’s role in recalibrating societal values.
He called for the integration of Africans on the continent with their diaspora counterparts, akin to the Jewish connection with Israel. He argued that this global cross-pollination of ideas and experiences is vital for Africa’s development.
