A traditional ruler in Nasarawa-Eggon town of Nasarawa State, Bala Angbazo, has advised Nigerians to speak mother tongues to their children in order to save the local languages from going into extinction.

Angbazo who is the chairman, Eggon Traditional Council gave the advice on Tuesday in Nasaraw Eggon, while hosting language translators of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Nassarawa-Eggon.

According to him, “if local languages are not communicated to the children through speaking and writing, they (languages) would soon disappear from the surface of the earth.

“Even though it is an added advantage for Nigerians to learn other foreign languages, it is also good to preserve and pass the local languages to the next generation.”

He warned that unless the issue was taken seriously by all stakeholders “people will lose their language, culture and identity.”

He added that local dialect would also help in informing the people at the rural areas about the policies of government and the happenings in the society.

He commended the language translators for the significant role they were playing in educating and enlightening people at the grassroots.

“The news in local languages is seriously putting smile and bringing joy to most people in the state, who do not have the opportunity of acquiring formal education.”

He therefore promised to support all media houses translating news in local languages in the state, and called on the managements of the stations to introduce more programmes in local dialect.

Earlier, Abubakar Ahmed-Umar, Chairman Language Translators of NBS, said they were at the palace to pay homage to the royal father as the custodian of Eggon culture in the state. (NAN)

•Photo shows map of Nassarawa State.