



































Effects and Impacts of Western Imperialism on China & Nigeria


THE HUMANITIES AND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE 

(Nnamdi Azikiwe University Faculty of Arts International Conference, 2009, page 456-460) 

Odinye                                                                                                                           456 

 

 

THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF LOCAL LANGUAGES IN NIGERIAN 

DEMOCRACY  

 

  

Sunny Ifeanyi Odinye 

Department of African and Asian Studies 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 

Email: ifeanyiodinye@gmail.com 

 

 

Abstract  

Language is universally accepted as the most effective instrument used by man in his daily life 

activities. It has undeniable importance in human affairs even in democracy. Local languages 

play a vital role in a democratic nation. This paper stresses the importance of Local languages as 

an indispensable means of democracy. The neglect of local languages in the democratic system is 

decried. Ways of improving the use of local languages in Nigerian democracy are recommended.  

 

Introduction 

Language has been defined in many ways by linguist and scholars. Crystal, (1987:396) presents 

three definitions of language given by three different scholars. According to him, Sapir states that 

language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotion and 

desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols. Trager view it as a system of arbitrary vocal 

symbols by means of which the members of a society interact in terms of their total culture. 

Interaction, as used here, possibly substitutes communication, while Hall takes it to be the 

institution whereby humans communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually 

used oral-auditory symbols.  

 There are other scholars who think that language is best appreciated when it is described. 

For Chumbo (1984):  

Education and training in whatever form requires imparting knowledge 

and skills as well as awaking and developing the intellectual potential 

of the learner. This can be done through language. The language used 

as the medium of instruction in the educational process is very 

important because the effectiveness of the educational training 

programme depends (among other things) or whether effective 

communication has taken place between the teacher and the learner or 

not.  

Benzies (1940) describes language differently:  

We can scarcely think at all without using words (language). Even if 

we do not speak, we are constantly using words in our heads to help us 

to think. It is hard to imagine thought going on at all without using 

words (language).  

  

Language is an abstract system of word meanings and symbols. It is a distinctive work of the 

Homo sapiens. It is a medium of communication which depends upon elements of shared 

experience. Without language there will be no shared meaning, hence, no social co-operation 

(Okediadi, 2007). 

 

Democracy   

Etymologically, this term comes from two Greek words, ‘demos’ and ‘cratia’ meaning people and 

power respectively. It means then the people’s power (power of the people). It has many nuances 



THE HUMANITIES AND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE 

(Nnamdi Azikiwe University Faculty of Arts International Conference, 2009, page 456-460) 

Odinye                                                                                                                           457 

 

of meaning hence looks virtually meaningless. Holden (1974:2) holds that “… virtually 

everything political (and not only things political) has been called “democracy” or “democratic”.  

 

Abraham Lincoln says it is “a government of the people by the people and for the people”. 

Hampsch (1982:16) oiled and cemented this definition thus “government and society which is of 

the people, by the people and for the people”. Democracy is both a form of government and state; 

the body governing is a representative of the entire body and a mode of appointing, organizing, 

controlling and sacking a government respectively. Marriam (1939:44) expands the meaning of 

democracy; he says it is “a set of thought and a mode of action directed toward the common zeal 

as interpreted and directed by the common will”.  

 

Although there can be nuances in the world’s democracies, it is generally a government in which 

power and civic responsibility are exercised by all citizens, directly or through their freely elected 

representatives. Democracy is a set of principles and practices that protect human freedom; it is 

the institutionalization of freedom.  

 

As a system of government, democracy has been much eulogized but also vilified. Nevertheless, 

it has remained the most initiated system of government in the world. Democracy is preferred to 

all other systems of government because it is the affirmation of human rights and natural law.  

 

According to Oguejiofor (2007), “with the sudden demise of the former communist block at the 

beginning of the 1990s there arose a wide acceptance of democracy as the best system of 

government”. He goes further to say that on the practical level; this undeclared triumph of 

democracy was seen in the rush of many countries that were hitherto ruled by dictatorial regimes 

to democratic.  

  

Democracy cannot be separated from language which links the people together. The language of 

any society makes for understanding and co-operation; and through it the people live together 

peacefully and harmoniously. Political systems are built upon our ability to communicate with 

each other, to formulate and exchange opinions and viewpoints, and to try to influence each other.  

 

 

Language Situation: Nigerian Experience  

There are diversities of languages in Nigeria and that is why it is seen as a multilingual nation. It 

is a country with multiple ethnic groupings which were brought together by Lord Lugard in 1914. 

According to Okediadi (2007), “the coming together of different ethnic groups with different 

linguistic backgrounds has thereby created problems of language diversity”. To Okonkwo (2002), 

“the amalgamation of the different language games within the geo-polity of Nigerian in 1914 

created the potency for the conflicts within Nigeria today”.  

 

In Nigeria, the number of local (indigenous) languages cannot be arrived at with mathematical 

accuracy due to multi-ethnic nature of the nation. Scholars have however, attempted giving 

numbers ranging from 400-500 languages. Igboanusi (2002:102) has this to say, “Against the 

background that over 400 indigenous lanaguages exist in Nigeria”. Nigerian local languages are 

grouped under major and minority languages. Bangbose (1992:73) explains; 

Nigerian languages are often grouped into major languages and 

minority languages based on such factors as a number of speakers, 

status in education, acquisition as a second language, and availability of 

written materials.  

Major languages include Hausa (in the North), Igbo (in the East) and Yoruba (in the West) while 

minority languages comprise all other languages spoken in the country (Odinye, 2009:1).  



THE HUMANITIES AND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE 

(Nnamdi Azikiwe University Faculty of Arts International Conference, 2009, page 456-460) 

Odinye                                                                                                                           458 

 

The language provisions in Nigerian National Policy on Education, NPE (1977, revised in 1981) 

stipulate that every child should be taught in his mother tongue or the language of his immediate 

community for the first three years. The provisions also stipulate that the mother tongue should be 

used in pre-primary education. Consequently, the Federal Government places greater emphasis on 

the teaching and learning of the three major Nigerian languages in National Policy on Education. 

The National Policy states that:  

In addition to appreciating the importance of language in educational 

process, and as a means of preserving the people’s culture, the 

government considers it to be in the interest of national unity…in this 

connection, the government considers the three major languages in 

Nigeria to be Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba (p. 9).  

  

It should be borne in mind that by this policy language has been used as a tool to promote inter-

ethnic understanding to foster cultural unity and integration through facilitating communications 

among Nigerians from different geographical areas. It is argued that the various governments in 

Nigeria from 1960 till date have failed to accord language the importance it deserves in national 

integration simple because of the general fear that it will generate inter-ethnic unrest among the 

general populace (Bangbose, 1991:7).  

 

Apart from the local languages, which are the mother tongue of Nigerians, there also exist non-

indigenous languages. English is one of them. English has continued to play many roles in Africa, 

and particularly in Nigeria, a former British colony. Here, it serves as the language of education, 

the language of administration at different levels, and the language of organized commerce and 

journalism (Igboanusi, 2002:27).  

 

At the moment, English serves as an official language in the country, but there is, yet, no national 

language or languages for Nigeria. In principles, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are seen as Nigerian 

national languages. The call for the adoption or retention of English may also be due to the 

growing status of English both nationally and internationally (Igboanusi, 2002:108). English is 

the language in use in most formal situations in Nigeria.  

 

Recently, many Nigerians have begun to question the position of English language in Nigeria’s 

education. They question, in particular, what they regard as the undue emphasis given to English 

in Nigeria’s education especially at pre-primary and primary schools levels. The argument points 

to the fact that the undue emphasis on English language is a great impediment to Nigerian 

education as it has ruined the careers of many Nigerians who happened not to be proficient in the 

language. This is because English has become a compulsory course for an admission into 

Nigerian universities, even when a candidate wants to study Nigerian languages.  

 

Local Languages for Sustainable Democracy  

Much as language is considered as one of the least visible, least measurable and least understood 

aspects of discrimination which can easily be squeezed out by a proper and understandable focus 

on structural and institutionalized force (Roberts et al 1992:360). However, it is a powerful 

instrument of control which can be, and has been used globally to maintain power relationships 

(like democracy).  

 

In other words, we can state that the primary consideration in the discussion of the politics of 

ethnicity is the salient relationship between language and one of the most basic social concerns: 

power. The view that language difference is a marginal consideration compared with the 

fundamental problem of the need to tackle power relationships is under-stable one, but it can 



THE HUMANITIES AND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE 

(Nnamdi Azikiwe University Faculty of Arts International Conference, 2009, page 456-460) 

Odinye                                                                                                                           459 

 

ignore the fact that communication is an aspect of power and that language is a major  factor 

frequently used implicitly in decision-making by the governance over the governed.  

 

Therefore, in the recognition of the importance of language in relation to other factors in order to 

bring about true national integration, sustainable democracy, primordial ethnic sentiments would 

first have to be removed among other. Bangbose (1991) was quick to add that it is not language 

that divides but the attitude of the speakers and the sentiments and symbolism attached to the 

language.  

 

It is until after this that language, among other factors, can be used to enhance national integration 

and sustainable democracy. It is this same factor that has remained the impediment for the 

achievement of a workable national language policy to the detriment of national development and 

sustainable democracy.  

 

It must be noted that one of the major factors hindering active participation in politics is the 

language barrier. Okediadi (2007):381) agreed with me by saying: 

Because political opponents cannot communicate with the electorates 

in their own indigenous languages, they misconstrue the action to be 

enmity and so, prefer tribal-politics rooted in their languages.  

  

However, if we understand the local languages, the political problems will be minimized to the 

barest minimum and there will be a sustainable democracy. A common language, therefore, 

particularly where it is indigenous is fundamental for national integration, national development, 

national consciousness and even sustainable democracy.  

 

Also, the local language of the people can be used as a powerful tool of social control. In view of 

UNESCO, a local language of a people is a vehicle for expressing the people’s deepest feelings 

and as a means of national self-expression, giving rise to the spirit of democracy. For Kleif 

(1976:60), “a native (local) language ties a people more closely to its landscape and breeds 

definable loyalties to it. Fishman (1971:40-41) sums it up in his words stressing the importance of 

local language for national integration and sustainable democracy:  

A common indigenous (local) language in the modern nation states is a 

powerful factor for unity. Cutting across tribal and ethnic times, it 

promotes a feeling of single community. Additionally, it makes 

possible the expression and development of social ideas, economic 

targets and cultural identity easily perceived by citizens. It is, in short, a 

powerful factor for mobilization of people and resources for nationhood. 

 

Recommendation and Conclusion  

The contribution of Nigerian language in the Nigerian democracy is far from satisfactory. The use 

of the local languages as a medium of instruction in the lower primary, as recommended in the 

National Policy on Education, is flagrantly ignored in some areas.  

 

The local languages in Nigeria should be given more attention. The focus should be to develop 

those languages that are not developed or underdeveloped. The compulsory instruction on the 

select major local languages (Hausa, Igbo Yoruba) in all the educational institutions at the 

primary, post-primary and post-secondary levels as was already provided by the government in 

the new National Policy on Education should be encouraged. Also, there should be frequent 

activities to enhance the importance of local languages like workshops, seminars, symposia, 

cultural activities, etc. 



THE HUMANITIES AND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE 

(Nnamdi Azikiwe University Faculty of Arts International Conference, 2009, page 456-460) 

Odinye                                                                                                                           460 

 

In conclusion, as we state earlier, democracy cannot be separated from language which link the 

people together. The language of any society makes for understanding and co-operation; and 

through it the people live together peacefully and harmoniously. The local languages should be 

used effectively as indispensable tool for a meaningful and sustainable democracy in Nigeria. 

People should be carried along since the government is for them and by them. Their languages 

should best convey any information in education, politics, governance and democracy.  

 

References 

Bangbose, A. (1991). Language and the Nation. London: Edinburgh University Press.  

 

Benzies, O. (1940). Learning our Language. London: Longman.  

 

Chumbo, B. (1984). “Reading and National Development”. A paper presented at the 3rd Annual 

Conference of the Association of General Studies in Nigerian Universities held at the 

University of Nigeria, Nsukka.  

 

Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. England: Cambride University 

Press.  

 

Federal Government of Nigeria (1981). National Policy on Education. Lagos: Federal 

Government Press. 

  

Fishman, J.A. (1971). “National Language and Languages of wider Communication in the 

Developing Nation”. In Language use and Social Change W.H. Whitely (Ed.) London: 

Oxford University Press. 

 

Igboanusi, H. (2002). Igbo English in the Nigerian Novel. Ibadan. Enicrowfit Publishers.  

 

Kleif, B. (1976). “Language is an Ethnic Boundary in Welsh-English Relations”. International 

Journal of the Sociology of Language.  

 

Odinye, I.S. (2009). “The Problems Nigerian Students Encounter in Learning the Chinese 

Language”. A Post Graduate (Masters) seminar presented to the Department of 

Linguistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.  

 

Okonkwo, J. (2002). “The Ontolinguistic Factors in Democratization: The Nigerian Face” In J.I. 

Okonkwo (ed.), Journal of Nigerian Languages and Culture (JONLAC). Owerri: 

Assumption Press. 

 

Okediadi, A. N. (2007). “Indigenous Languages as Tool for Fostering Democracy” In I. Ike (ed.) 

Nigerian Democracy and Global Democracy, Awka: Afab Educational Books.  

 

Oguejiofor, O. (2007). “Foreword” In I. Ike (ed.), Nigerian Democracy and Global Democracy. 

Awka: Afab educational Books.  


