In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved a National Language Policy (NLP), which provides that from Early Child Care Education to Primary 6, the language of instruction will be in the Mother Tongue or Language of the Immediate Community. The provisions of the NLP hold prospects for Nigeria and Nigerians to preserve and use indigenous languages in schools for sustainable development. These considerations informed the theme for the 2023 volume of NILAS: The National Language Policy: Implementation Structures, Resources and Deliverables. This volume includes contributions on various aspects of Nigerian languages, particularly on the implementation, resources, and deliverables of the NLP. We expect that the articles will inspire further research and documentation on numerous other Nigerian languages not covered in this volume. We extend our gratitude to the Editorial Board, assessors, and contributors for their unique roles in the publication of NILAS, Volume 7. We eagerly anticipate future opportunities for collaboration.

Dr. Umefien D. Epepe
Editor

The 2019 NILAS has the theme, Mass Literacy and Scientific Development through Nigerian Languages. This issue is very captivating because papers were written in some indigenous languages. This has captured the raison d’ȇtre of NINLAN. In addition, this year, 2019 has been declared as the international year of indigenous languages. The contributions made in this issue are in accord with the declaration.
The papers equally discussed different areas of Nigerian Languages: syntax, morphology, semantics, phonetics, documentation, terminology, teaching and learning etc. We look forward to having more articles written on non-major Nigerian languages in our next issue.
We express our immense gratitude to all our contributors, the Editorial Board and evaluators and also count on your usual co-operation in the future.

Ijioma Ngozi P. PhD
Editor

The 2016 National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) conference was a very remarkable one. It was blessed by the presence and participation of Nigerian foremost linguist, and founding father of NINLAN, Professor Emeritus Ayô Bámgbósé. The theme of the conference is also remarkable; The Language Provisions of the National Policy on Education over the Years. It attracted, predictably, many scholars from all over the country. This edition of NILAS is a filter of leading ideas of the theme. Professor Emeritus Ayô Bámgbósé, in the keynote address, gave a thought-provoking analysis of the theme and the non-implementation of the undoubtedly sound ideas concerning our indigenous languages. Lead papers by Professor Kunle Adeniran, Professor Eno-Abasi Urua and Ore Yusuf discuss consequential issues emanating from the policy, the non-implementation, and possible ways forward.

Most other conference papers are directly related to the policy, as it affects the non-major languages. Other areas covered include language policy, language teaching, issues of translation and terminologies, and the role of the media in the development of our indigenous languages. There were core linguistic papers too. Most importantly, all the articles, no matter the domain, are geared towards the development and promotion of Nigerian languages which is the raison d’être of NINLAN.

For this and all else, we are very grateful to all our contributors, the Editorial Board and our evaluators. We look forward to your usual cooperation in the future.

Ijioma, Ngozi P. PhD

Editor

The year 2020 has been a very challenging one for everyone, academics inclusive. The Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible for us to host our annual conference. Inspite of the challenges, we are glad to say that this year’s edition of NILAS journal has proved to be very impressive. Many Nigerian languages apart from the major ones are represented: Urhobo, Ibibio, Tiv, Kanuri, Bade, Ufia, Igala, Basa etc. We are getting closer to achieving the mandate of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages: developing, documenting and preserving all Nigerian Languages.
Another encouraging aspect is that we have more papers written in our indigenous languages in this volume. Despite the lockdown, our brains are very active.
We thank our contributors for this epic achievement, our assessors who made out time to review the papers. We will not fail to acknowledge our distinguished and very senior colleagues for identifying with us.
We look forward to having more contributions in our indigenous languages in subsequent volumes.
Relax, enjoy the papers and stay safe.

Ngozi P. Ijioma Ph.D
Editor

This volume of NILAS is the first since National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) regained her autonomy in 2014, after eight years of control by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The main focus of this volume is on developing and sustaining Nigerian languages in the ICT age. There are, however, other articles which span across different domains of Nigerian languages, both major and non-major languages including language structure, endangerment, terminology development and creation, teaching, development and sustenance.

Most of the articles were presented at the Conference of the Institute in 2014, with the theme: Developing and Sustaining Nigerian Languages in the ICT Age. The three lead papers presented by Prof. Amafani, Prof. Ituen and Prof. Aziza address the issues relating to Nigerian Languages and the ICT from different perspectives. While Amfani examines the theme in relation to Nigeria ICT policy, Ituen addresses its implication for the minority languages and Aziza focuses on the state of the Nigeria Language in the ICT Age.

Most of the papers examine issues relating to the development and sustenance of Nigerian Languages. Issa examines The Significance of Mother Tongue as a Catalyst for Intellectual Development: The Linguistic Approach; Eunice and Ogbonna address, How Engangered is Igbo Language? Ohakama and Amaechi, Wrong Home Foundational Background: The Bane of Igbo Language Development and Sustenance. While Ndiribe examines The Igbo Proverbs and the Image Schemas: a Pragmatic Approach, Abah, Gbaaiikyo and Umoru focus on The Dynamic Roles of Proverbs in Idoma Language.

The papers that focus on terminology and term creation include: Cookey, Developing Musculoskeletal Terms in Igbo Language; Ohaike, Terminological Creation; A Practical Approach; Ijioma and Ezeafulukwe, Loanwords: The Case of Igbo Language. Okeogu examines Body Parts Metaphor in the Igbo Language; Issa and Mary address The Resultative Serial Verb Constructions in Igbo: A Minimalist Approach; Nkoro launches us into another dimension by showcasing Anagrams as a Literary Device: The Igbo Example; Enwere examines The Role of Language in Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution; Ikonne showcases The Application of Resource- Based Learning (RBL) in Nigerian Languages’ Teaching and Learning; Nkoro examines French Present Indicative and the Igbo Learners of French: A pedagogical Approach; Enwere exposes how Improved Attitude, Economic Empowerment and Motivation Enhances the Status of Nigerian Language and finally, Chimaobi, Nkechinyere and Roseline examine The Patterns of Neologisms and Semantic Change in Igbo.

In summary, this volume has touched different facets of how Nigerian Languages will be developed and sustained. We look forward to having more articles on non-major languages in our next issue. We hope you will find them interesting and worthy of your time reading them.

Ijioma, Ngozi P. PhD

Editor