By Sabiu Abdullahi
The growing influence of English and the declining practice of passing indigenous languages from parents to children could threaten the future of Hausa, former Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Katsina State chapter, Hajiya Hannatu Mohammed, has warned.
Mohammed raised the concern while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in commemoration of Hausa Day. She called for deliberate efforts to protect Hausa and other indigenous Nigerian languages from gradual cultural erosion.
She said the importance of preserving indigenous languages extends beyond communication, as they carry the history, traditions, values and identities of different communities.
The Punch Newspapers quoted her as saying, “Nigeria needs to preserve Hausa and other indigenous languages because language is more than a means of communication. It is a repository of our history, culture, values and collective identity.”
She noted that the widespread use of Hausa across Northern Nigeria, especially in the media, education, commerce and cultural activities, makes its preservation an important cultural and social responsibility.
“We should be able to speak English for global communication while proudly maintaining Hausa and our other indigenous languages,” she insisted.
