Abstract:
This paper examines the place of
indigenous language in national development. Our intention is to elucidate how
indigenous languages can be employed to aid economic, scientific or
technological advancement in Nigeria. Such areas that need attention are: internal trade, where language is used as a
medium of negotiation and/or transaction; defense or diplomacy, where knowledge
of many languages is important; information dissemination, where language
serves as a pivot to passing information or messages from one place or person
to another; economic, scientific or technological advancement, in which good
utilization of language, (indigenous languages) cannot be ruled out. The paper
adopts qualitative design, and data were analyzed descriptively. Findings showed
that the roles of language in national development cannot be overemphasized. It
was equally discovered that people (especially children) learn fast when their
mother tongue or first language (LI) is used as a medium of instruction, and
this influences their economic or technological advancement, which further
influences or affects national development. The paper recommends that Nigeria
language policies (the ones that emphasize our indigenous languages) should be
adequately implemented.
DOI: https://www.doi.10.57233/djfafais.2026.v22i01.021
author/Ayegba, Monday and Johnpaul, Ojonugwa Naomi
journal/Degel 22(1) | October 2026 |
