BSN’s General secretary tasks Nigerians on mother tongue

The General Secretary, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Dr. Dare Ajiboye has called on Nigerians, as well as, the government at all levels to ensure they preserve their mother tongues, saying the death of a language is the death of a culture.

He made the remark, while announcing completion and BSN’s plan to dedicate the Kalabari and Okrika Bibles, whose translation started in 1970 and ’71.

He challenged the government to come up with policies that would sustain indigenous languages, lest they go into extinction.

He said: “Mother tongue is so important that the United Nations set aside February 21 as International Mother Language Day, which is celebrated yearly worldwide.”

Ajiboye also commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission for its fight against piracy, adding that the Commission with the Nigerian Customs Service confiscated three containers of pirated materials, including the Bible Society of Nigeria‘s Bibles.

He called on those engaged in criminal activities, especially piracy to note the incarceration of one businessman, who had 376 copies of pirated BSN’s Bible.

Director, Head of Lagos office, Nigerian Copy Right Commission, Obi Ezeilo said the Commission frowns at piracy and would continue to bring to book anyone caught in this unwholesome act.

Both Kalabari and Okrika Bibles would be dedicated at the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre, Abonima and St. Peter’s Cathedral, Okrika.