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The identity, survival, and promotion of minority languages in Nigeria

The article begins by citing various definitions of minority languages, particularly those relating to majority versus minority languages in terms of 
socio-economic Status andpoliticalpower. It then observes the consequences 
of the Nigerian juridical and constitutional definition, whereby Hausa, 
Yoruba and Igbo are designated "major" languages, implying to many 
Nigerians that the other languages, numbering over 400, are minor and 
therefore less important. As an Illustration of the neglect the so-called 
minor languages suffer, the Situation ofthe 33 languages ofthe Rivers State 
is discussed, indicating that most of these languages have very few or no 
school readers, inspite of the Rivers Readers Project. They also feature 
very little, if at all, in media coverage. The Situation is supposed to be 
worse for small languages in other Nigerian States where there are no 
promotion projects. It is argued that the present policy does not encourage 
the development of minority languages, resulting in gradual shifts to lingua 
francas, especially in areas that lack deliberate Community effort to ensure 
survival and development oftheir languages. Lack offunds and thepressing 
need to direct the scarce resources to areas of national development with a 
higher priority are often advanced as arguments for neglecting minority 
languages, some ofwhich are already on the point of extinction. The paper 
follows with convincing arguments for the promotion of minority languages 
as a crucial factor in national development, while gradual lingo-cultural 
genocide could result in apathy, loss oflinguistic and cultural heritage, and 
outright rebellion. The paper concludes with suggestions and recommendations concerning the promotion of minority languages, including positive 
policies, coordination at the national level, and the commitment and effort 
of the communities themselves.