Author: tdpel

Researchers observe that language is what makes people humans; a dynamic integral part of culture and a constituent part of human civilisation.

According to them, when language, a fabric of culture dies, the culture goes also with it to extinction.

Similarly, linguists often argue that languages become extinct due to globalisation, politics, economic influence and neocolonialism, among other reasons.

They emphasise that there might be extinction of some languages if there are no more known native speakers of the language, especially if the language has no living descendants.

According to them, a language is endangered when speakers decide that it is better for their children’s future to acquire language they believe it is tied to economic success, such as English language.

With this attitude, researchers note that almost half of the languages known today could go to extinction in future.

In Nigeria, for instance, preservation of mother languages as a cultural heritage receives little attention, analysts argue.

They observe that the younger generation does not have deep knowledge of their language culture to understand the need to appreciate their mother language as a tool for deepening cultural values.

In the light of this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), observes that 29 local languages in Nigeria are endangered and the number will increase except deliberate efforts are made to address the situation.

For the United Nations, International Mother Language Day, celebrated on every Feb. 21, recognises that languages play a vital role in development in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

In the last edition of the day, the theme focused on: “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities’’.

UNESCO, during the observance of the day, expressed worry that “linguistic diversity is increasingly threatened as more and more languages disappear globally’’.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay therefore calls on countries to defend linguistic and cultural diversity, observing that 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand.

According to her, four out of 10 children worldwide do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best; meaning the foundation for their learning is more fragile.

“From the very first day of school, many schoolchildren have the ambivalent experience of discovering one language – and the world of ideas which comes with it – and forgetting another one: the language they have known since infancy.

“This distancing from the mother tongue affects us all, for linguistic diversity is a common good and the protection of linguistic diversity is a duty’’, she said.

Azoulay notes that every language has a certain rhythm, as well as a certain way of approaching things and thinking of them.

“Learning or forgetting a language is thus not merely about acquiring or losing a means of communication. It is about seeing an entire world either appear or fade away,’’ she observes.

Azoulay says the International Mother Language Day would begin to give new momentum to protecting indigenous languages.

Ms Andriamiseza Noro, an education programme specialist in UNESCO, also believes that technology has the power to address some of the biggest challenges in education and language acquisition.

Some stakeholders, therefore, call on parents, school systems and government to adopt approaches that will inculcate cultural values in the society, especially on children.

A linguist in Jos, Mr Audu Silas, notes mother languages in addition to the three major Nigerian languages should be included in school curriculum, especially the basic education system.

He advises that the elites in the society ought to contribute towards developing their mother languages to salvage them from extinction.

He observes that this can be done through engaging scholars for outreaches, translating literature materials or books in their languages while using Information Communication Technologies.

He also states that stakeholders, especially the elderly, should organise campaigns to preserve cultural heritage by promoting transmission of their language to the younger generation.

Silas observes further that inferiority complex among speakers of minority languages has affected speaking some indigenous languages, insisting that no language is superior to others.

He calls on the National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Council for Arts and Culture and other cultural institutions, to educate the public against stereotyping people because of their languages.

A mother in Jos, Ms Fatima Adamu, cautions parents against insisting on speaking English language to their children and neglecting their mother languages even in mixed marriages.

“Some children even do not speak their mother language in spite their parents being from the same ethnic group; so, deliberate effort by parents is required to teach their children their mother language,’’ she notes.

Also, the chairman of the Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria in Plateau, Mr Tali Danjuma, notes that negligence by parents has been a factor affecting the learning of mother languages.

“Most parents have been making that mistake once they relocate to a particular place maybe they leave their village; they use a different language such as English language and with time, they will not be able to communicate freely with their own mother tongues.

“Please, help the future generation to understand their languages, cultural heritage to stop modern languages in the country from going to extinction,’’ he pleads.

In her observation, Mrs Kaneng Gbadamosi, a research student with the University of Jos, says videos and audio material should be adopted in the teaching of Nigerian languages as some textbooks may not give much in their teaching.

“If there are literatures, videos and audios, it will help. You will find out that the missionaries who came to Nigeria learned local languages with learning aids and were able to speak Nigerian languages; yet some of us do not speak the languages,’’ she observes.

Analysts hope that the society will reflect on UNESCO’s directives on making deliberate efforts to salvage mother languages from extinction.

They also call on language experts and stakeholders to take advantage of the potential of technology for learning mother languages.

They believe that complying with the UNESCO’s guidelines on how to save indigenous languages from extinction will underscore the importance of International Mother Language Day celebrated annually since 2000 to raise awareness on language, cultural diversity and multilingualism around the world.(NANFeatures)

By Peter Amine

The Director-General (D-G), Nigerian Metrological Agency, Prof. Mansur Matazu, said that the newly-inaugurated weather stations in Plateau would positively impact all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

 

Matazu, who was represented by HydroMet’s General Manager, Mr Daniel Okafor, expressed the confidence at the inauguration of the weather stations on Tuesday in Jos.

 

According to the D-G, the stations will add to the data which NiMET gathers for the nation in order to get tailored information and pieces of advice that will help policy makers in taking informed decisions.

 

“It is also to aid different sectors of the economy that are weather dependent on making their plans towards doing whatever they want to do in their sector.

 

“There is no sector of the economy that doesn’t depend on weather.

 

“The weather we are in which is a global phenomenon: we are talking about climate change, rise in temperature, the amount of rainfall we used to have; in some places it is near to nothing, in other places it is too much.

 

“With these kinds of stations and several others located in different coordinates in the country, we will be able to monitor and forecast the total amount of rainfall that is expected in different regions.

 

“It would enable the farmers (agricultural sector) to know the planting season, the duration of the rainfall, kinds of crops to plant, the period of maturity and the rest.

 

“In the aviation sector, without weather information the pilot cannot fly because he needs to know the weather from where he is leaving to where he is going,” he added.

 

According to him, the weather stations in the country are grossly inadequate.

 

Matazu said that going by World Metrological Organisation’s (WMO) standard, the weather stations should be at the minimum 100 kilometers apart.

 

Dr Salisu Dahiru, National Project Coordinator, National Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), noted that the stations usually brought essential aspects of learning to the institutions where they were located.

 

Dahiru, represented NEWMAP’s Water Specialist, Mr Ayuba Anda, stated that students who would be in the field after graduation needed to have good knowledge of the role weather played in agriculture and other human endeavours.

 

“For the institution as a centre of learning, the lecturers have a dire need for more knowledge of modern weather equipment and their utilisation to enable them to teach the students better.

 

“They will get data to show the students how these data would be used, archived, analysed and transmitted into reasonable information that would be meaningful for planning and development,” he said.

 

He stated that the equipment in stations were tested and guaranteed to have long lifespan, and, however, added that “for it to be sustained, it requires simple maintenance culture.”

 

He gave such maintenance culture as cleaning the environment, dusting the solar panels and checking the battery terminals at all times.

 

He said they would “ensure that there is enough current that would be running the station in order to bring out the data as required.”

 

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, who inaugurated the stations, also said that it would impact on the lives of the institutions as well as other Nigerians.

 

The governor, who was represented by Mr Yakubu Idi, the Commisioner for Environment, said that as a government, it was aware of the challenges that might accompany the establishment of the stations.

 

‘As we encourage the institutions to put up sustainability plans, the state government through the NEWMAP is going to draw another sustainability plan as an alternative.

 

“In the event that the institution fails, we can fall back on that of the state government.

 

“I am happy that while NEWMAP is winding up, we have the ACRISAL coming on board to continue from where NEWMAP stopped.

 

“The ACRISAL also have a component of climate change as well as weather focus and I believe the establishment of weather stations is equally embedded in it,” he said.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three weather stations are situated in University of Jos (Plateau North), Federal College of Education Pankshin (Plateau Central) and College of Agriculture Garkawa (Plateau south).

 

The equipment in each of the stations include: wind vane, anemometer, soil sensor, thermometer,  pyranometer (measuring sunshine) instrument to measure relative humidity as well as instrument to measure radiation.

 

Chief executives of the institutions commended NEWMAP and other stakeholders for situating the stations in their schools and promised to secure and maintain the stations for optimum use. (NAN)

By Sylvester Thompson

Nigeria has reinforced and solidified bilateral ties with Israel in Science, Technology and Innovation for socio-economic development, Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said.

Onu said this when he received Amb. Michael Freeman, Israel’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, in his office in Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to him, the Federal Government is eager to broaden the country’s economy with knowledge and innovation.

The minister noted that with the nation’s huge human capital, it could add value to its abundant raw materials, thereby helping to create jobs for the teeming youths.

He commended the fruitful historical diplomatic ties between both countries, saying the relationship had yielded positive results.

He urged the new Israeli envoy to sustain the relationship, by building upon the successes of his predecessors.

Speaking earlier, Freeman said his country was willing to collaborate further with Nigeria on many socio-economic areas.

The ambassador added that Nigeria was looking forward to a robust relationship with Israel, especially in challenging areas that could be solved using Science, Technology and Innovation. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

By Maureen Okon

The Nigerian delegation on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Pakistani companies at the Engineering and Healthcare Show in Lahore, Pakistan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was signed between Bajwa Pharmaceuticals Group of Companies and an Agricultural Manufacturing Machinery company called Agroasia.

Mr Ahmed Yakassai, the former President of Pharmaceuticals Society of Nigeria, who signed a MoU with Bajwa, said that the agreement would promote exclusive distribution of genuine medical supplies especially anaesthetic products in Nigeria.

He added that he will ensure that the products get registered with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) for proper documentation.

“So we will start working ahead to see if we can establish a joint venture manufacturing plant in Nigeria particularly in Kano State.

“We are going to help fight fake drugs and supply high quality and genuine medicines, fight the issue of drug abuse because if we have the control we will be able to solve most issues pertaining to drug abuse.

“Also, the aspect of manufacturing will generate employment for our young teeming youths because the value chain is huge and I am also promoting the production of active Pharmaceutical ingredient in Nigeria.”

Mr Adnan Khan, the Director-Global Business Unit of Bajwa Group of Companies, said it was a milestone in the history of partnership between Nigeria and Pakistan especially in the Pharmaceutical sector.

“As we have heard that the quality of medicine is the real issue in Nigeria, and bringing these quality pharmaceutical products into Nigeria by Bajwa will be an honour.

“Also we will be sure that Nigerian health community is safe and I pray this increase our partnership not only in pharmaceutical products but in other areas,” he said.

Also at the signing, Prof. Chimezie Anyakora, the CEO Bloom Public Health, said it was an amazing event for Nigeria and Pakistan and also for Africa as a whole because Africa have inadequate medicines to support the diseases in the continent.

“Africa do not have enough quality medicine to cater for the various illnesses in it, from manufacture to supply,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Mrs Rose Maballa, the Director General , National Drug Quality Control and Valuation Laboratory Cameroon, said the agreement emphasised the need to manufacture quality medicines in Africa.

“They are internal medicine that are important for our country at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic , and I wish that this project is done soon to benefit the continent.”

NAN also reports that Mr Micheal Ojediran of Bamadek International Company Limited also signed an MoU with Agroasia Group of Companies.

He expressed optimism with the quality products of the company and looked forward for more collaborations.

The Executive Officer of Agroasia, Mr Atif Rehman, lauded the collaboration and assured the Nigerian delegation of quality products.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

According to a statement by the South African Police Service, an 11 yrs old girl was killed last night in a car accident.

Last night 28 February 2022 at about 18:50, a 39-year-old driver of a Red Toyota Tazz was driving on the Rocklands Road on his way to Kariega, when he collided with an 11-year-old girl, Maria Makwena.

According to the driver, he noticed children walking on the pavement on his approach. He also alleges that he decreased speed and when he was close to them, two children suddenly ran across the road, but one of them turned back again and the accident took place. The girl passed away on the scene.

A culpable homicide case was opened at Kariega SAPS.

The South African Police Service wishes to remind our communities to not let children walk or play unsupervised at or close to busy streets.

Reports from South African Police Services SAPS states –

The East London Regional court sentenced the director, Chidozi Aloysius Ogbona (41); his entity, Divinewatch Protection & Cleaning Services CC and a salesperson, Anele Lahle (36) for fraud which happened between 2006 and 2009.

The entity was awarded tenders at a university in Walter Sisulu and Eastern Cape Development Corporation. The invoices and Value Added Tax (VAT) were submitted for services rendered.

The accused failed to disclose to South African Revenue Services that they claimed VAT for an amount of more than R842 000-00.

After a thorough investigation by the East London based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.

The accused were arrested and charged for numerous counts of fraud. Ogbona was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of R100 000-00 fine whereas Lahle received a five year sentence with an option of a R50 000-00 fine. An entity was fined R160 000-00.

Ogbona and Lahle further received five year-suspended sentences.

Statement from South Africa’s Police SAPS says –

No mercy should be spared to perpetrators who commit crimes against women and children and such criminals should receive the maximum punishment for inflicting pain, anger, suffering and in many cases death on their victims and their families.

Police detectives from the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Gqeberha and SAPS Bethelsdorp succeeded in securing life sentences for their separate cases.

Khulile Mbobela (27) from Motherwell was served with three life sentences for rape, yesterday 28 February 2022 in the Gqeberha High court. On 4 March 2020, the two victims, aged 19 and 22 years old were walking in central Gqeberha when they were approached by the accused who forced them  at knife point to walk with him. He demanded money from both women and when they said that they had no money, he raped them twice in an open field.

He was arrested on 5 March 2020 by FCS detectives who were searching for the accused. He was spotted in central by one of the victims who was with police at the time. He was charged for rape, kidnapping and attempted robbery. He appeared in court and was released on R2 000-00 bail. He was found guilty on Friday, 25 February 2022 and was remanded in custody until his sentencing on 28 February 2022.

On 28 February 2022, he was sentenced as follows:

3 x rape – life sentence on each count.

Rape – 20 years imprisonment

Attempted robbery – 3 years imprisonment

Kidnapping x 2 – 5 years combined sentence

All the sentences will run concurrent to the life sentence.

In another separate sentencing, Andrew George (31) was convicted and sentenced in the Gqeberha Regional court to life imprisonment for the murder of Melissa Marlouw (30) and an additional 10 years for raping her.

On 22 August 2020, at about 03:00, George was walking Ms Marlouw home in Independence Road in Kleinskool after they were drinking with friends. She was hit over the head with a stone and thereafter raped and stabbed in the neck. On Tuesday, 1 September 2020 he was arrested by SAPS Bethelsdorp detectives at a relative’s house in Uitenhage.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene has welcomed the harsh sentences imposed on the two remorseless criminals. ‘One victim raped or killed, is one too many.  Women are hurt, raped and murdered by the people they know and trust as well as by strangers who want to exercise control over them.  Sentences such as this sends out a strong message that the SAPS and the prosecuting authorities are serious in crushing Gender Based Violence. I congratulate the investigating teams in both cases for ensuring justice for the victims and their families,’ added Lt Gen Mene.

Statement from South Africa’s Police says –

It is alleged that the 27-year-old victim was enjoying herself with her female friend at a tavern on 25 February 2022. The suspect was also drinking with them.

At 22:00 that night the friend did not see the deceased again and suspected that she left with the suspect.

The friend then decided to   report her on 28 February 2022 at 12:55 as a missing person.

At 16:00 on the same day, the SAPS arrested the suspect at TV Park.

On further investigation the body of the deceased, which was cut in half, with a saw, was found in a toilet in the area.

The investigation continues and the 55-year-old suspect will appear on the 3 March 2022 on two counts of murder and rape before the Maclear magistrate court.

The acting District Commissioner Brig Rudolph Adolph has announced his shock on this horrific crime. He applauded the SAPS on the quick response and on the arrest of the suspect.

Statement SAPS released today –

The National Crime Intelligence Anti-Kidnapping Task Team has made yet another breakthrough in less than five days after a Vereeniging businessman, Mr Zaheer Asmal, was kidnapped at his business premises on Friday morning.

Just before midnight on Monday, the Task Team led a multi-disciplinary operation consisting of members of the Special Task Force (STF), the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) assisted by private security.

The team swooped in at three identified addresses, one in Lenasia South where the victim was found unharmed. At this address, police arrested the owner of the property, a 70-year-old suspect.

At the second address in Ennerdale, police found a dark grey Toyota Hilux and fake registration number plates which were utilized in the commission of the crime. One suspect was arrested.

When police arrived at the third address in Roodepoort, police were met with gunfire, fortunately none of the Task Team members sustained any injuries. One suspect, a suspect was arrested. One unlicensed firearm was also seized.

All three suspects are facing charges relating to kidnapping and robbery with aggravated circumstances .The third suspect is facing additional charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm as well as attempted murder.

In the past week alone, the Task Team has arrested eight suspects linked to kidnappings where ransom demands were made.

Report reaching us from the family member of a 6 years old girl who has been continuously molested by her teacher since last year says the story started when the victim saw her teacher while she was with her mum on the street and started shaking.

The mum asked the victim why she was so afraid of the teacher and started giving her options of whether the teacher beat her too much or touch her to which the girl confirmed that the teacher has been touching her in her private part.

The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed multiple cases of rape and other particles in the victims private parts.

Report says the school (Royal Children International school in Asaba) has been trying to cover up the incidence and request that the issue be settled out of law.

The teacher has been arrested. See video below