NINLAN Undergoes Revitalisation As Director Onuoha Praised For Vision, Innovation

Professor Ogbonna Onuoha, the Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), has been commended for his impactful leadership and the significant strides the institution has made under his direction in a short period.

Deacon Uzoma Isiakpu, a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, and Mr. Charles Ifenkwe, a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, both veteran journalists, expressed their appreciation during a courtesy visit to Professor Onuoha’s office at Opobo Azumiri Road, Aba.

Deacon Isiakpu and Mr. Ifenkwe specifically praised Professor Onuoha for successfully attracting TETFUND support to enhance NINLAN’s development and for prioritising staff training to ensure the institution’s personnel remain updated on contemporary practices.

The veteran journalists and retired Permanent Secretaries, who now serve as Public Relations Consultants, encouraged Professor Onuoha to focus on increasing publicity and awareness of NINLAN to broaden its reach and enable more Nigerians to benefit from its language programs.

Earlier, Professor Onuoha briefed the visiting consultants on NINLAN’s new initiatives aimed at fostering the development of Nigerian languages, disseminating information about them, and facilitating their teaching and study.

He highlighted the Institute’s advanced plans to establish Nigerian language acquisition centers – two in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

According to Professor Onuoha, these study centers will serve as outreach points, where consultants, coordinators, and teachers will instruct enrolled students, eliminating the need for them to travel to the Institute’s headquarters.

Professor Onuoha also revealed that NINLAN is finalising plans for online Nigerian language study, enabling students across the country to access learning materials via the internet upon registration.

“Even Nigerians in the diaspora who have lost fluency in their native languages, and those whose children no longer speak them, will be able to learn from us through the internet,” Professor Onuoha stated.

The NINLAN Executive Director added that the Institute is developing computer systems specifically designed for Nigerian languages, incorporating new technology for processing these languages and eliminating the need for traditional keyboards.