... Wants Obaseki, AAU to kick-start teaching of Esan

... Calls for immediate intervention to safe language

... Canvasses support for Esan Governor in 2024

The umbrella socio-cultural organisation, the Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), has strongly lauded the Federal Government over the new National Language Policy which makes it compulsory for the teaching of indigenous languages at the first six years of child‘s education, that’s primary one to six levels.

Noting that it underscores the basis of its agitation for urgent intervention on the threat of extinction afflicting the Esan Language, spoken largely amongst the people massed in the Edo Central Senatorial Zone, which had gone unheeded by successive administrations, including that of Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the authorities of the 40s year old Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

Commending the Federal Government for this policy which it contends may breathe life to the language of many of the over 500 ethnic groups in the country, that are presently threatened with extinction, the group in a statement in Benin City signed by its President, Rt Hon Mathew Egbadon, and Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Iyare, says the government’s move to also ensure that the indigenous language is taught along with English at the first three years of secondary school (JSS1-3) is redeeming.

While pouring encomiums on the authorities of Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa for commencing a certificate course in Esan Language, it calls on the Edo State Government and the authorities at AAU to also kickstart the process of teaching the language.

“There’s no doubt that we require hundreds of teachers versed in the Esan Language and other instructional materials to see this policy through. But the government can leverage on the several texts already written by many authors on Esan Language in addition to tapping from the rich exploits of some local people,” Esan Okpa counsel, arguing that once there’s “a will to promote the teaching of the language, there will always be a way”.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, says the Federal Government is intent on preserving cultures and peculiar characteristics of different Nigerian ethnic groups, lamenting that so much has been lost due to the extinction of some local languages

Conceding that government is aware that implementation would be difficult, Adamu revealed that the mother tongue would be used exclusively for the first six years of education while it would be combined with the English language from Junior Secondary School.

The Minister noted that though the policy has officially taken effect, it can only be fully implemented when government develops instructional materials and qualified teachers are available.

The Esan people are located in five local government areas of Edo State – Esan West, Esan Central, Esan Northeast, Esan Southeast and Igueben. Esan Okpa says Esan Language and by extension its culture is threatened with extinction because many of its people including those who live in Esan land are no longer speaking the language.

In August 2021, Egbadon, also the pioneer Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, addressed a press conference on behalf of Esan Okpa in Benin City decrying this, calling for urgent intervention to safe the language. He stated then:

“EOI is concerned that the Esan Language is fast going into extinction, as many of our people, particularly the young ones, including those who live in Esan land, cannot speak the language, let alone write in it. The situation is so worrisome, to the extent that many of our people cannot string a simple sentence together in Esan Language without mixing it up with mostly English language.

“As a body, we have identified and outlined programmes and events we shall be embarking on soon, to sensitize and rekindle our people's interest in speaking and writing in Esan language. We have plans to promote Esan Language and culture among the Esan people, including those living outside the state, by setting up mini Esan Language clinics in places like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and in the diaspora.

“We wish to call on the Edo State government to reintroduce the study of Esan Language in its school curriculum, at the primary and secondary school levels in Esan land. In the past, Esan language was taught in schools and was even part of the West African School Certificate Examination syllabus.

“We have adequate texts and books in Esan Language to support its teaching and teachers in schools in Esan land.

We will make a similar request to the State-owned University, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, to, as a matter of urgency, introduce the study of Esan and other Edo languages and culture as part of the programme at its Department of Language Studies.

“It is anomalous that AAU’s Department of Languages does not teach Esan or any of the Edo languages, but teaches French, Russian and Spanish.

“As a body, EOI shall be ready to make its contributions in whatever way it can, to support the State government and the university in the study of Esan Language and culture,” he said.

Meanwhile, EOI through its President, has also sent Christmas and New Year greetings to all Esan people at home and in the diaspora, urging them to keep track of the 2024 Edo Agenda, which is the call on all Edos to support the election of a Governor of Esan extraction in 2024 in the interest of peace, equity and justice.

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