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