Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, the Chief Executive of the National Library of Nigeria, has emphasized the importance of parents speaking indigenous languages to their children.
This statement was made during a media parley organized by the National Library of Nigeria, Lagos, to commemorate International Literacy Day. Anunobi explained that literacy development, especially in indigenous languages, begins within the family and encouraged parents to nurture this by gifting their children books that promote indigenous languages. She also highlighted the National Library's special mandate to promote reading and literacy, citing the success of Ireland's dedicated effort to increase literacy rates. Anunobi suggested implementing programs where children can engage with materials tailored to their reading level and discussed the importance of addressing the challenges faced by children who transition from local languages to English in higher education.
Additionally, Mrs. Ifeoma Esiri, Co-founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries, emphasized the need for Nigerian children to read and write in local languages, stressing that literacy goes beyond mastering English. She called for government programs to expand access to literature and knowledge in native languages and encouraged Nigerian writers to produce works in local languages.
