The General Secretary, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Pastor Samuel Sanusi has again called on the government not to relent in ensuring that Nigeria languages are preserved by enforcing their usage, especially in schools, adding that language is our identity and an integral part of our culture as a nation.
Sanusi reiterated this at the Bible Guest House, Ilupeju, Lagos during the announcement of the completion of the Okun Bible by the BSN within an unprecedented period of five years, thereby setting a new global record in Bible translation.
“With this, we have broken the global record of Bible translation which we previously held for completing the translation of the Igala Common Language Bible in 11 years. It is worthy of note that the United Bible Societies (UBS) had set a target of 12 years for the completion of any translation project which has not been achieved by any country except the BSN.
“With the completion of Okun Bible, we have so far, now have the full Bible in 27 Nigerian Languages, while translation, as well as revision, is ongoing in ten Nigerian languages.
“Though Okun Bible was completed at the cost of N87 million because of the various uncommon support such as an indigene volunteered to build an office where the translation took place while another committed indigene volunteered to pay the salaries of translators and other workers. Where there is willingness, resources and commitment, nothing shall be impossible and the shorter the period, the lesser the amount it would cost to complete the translation of a complete Bible.
“Under the normal circumstance, it costs us a minimum of N120 million to complete a project, if achieved in eight years,” he said.
Sanusi remarked that BSN has again emerged as the global leader in English Bible distribution, followed by The Bible Society of America while The Bible Society of Kenya came third according to the global Bible distribution statistics published by the UBS.
Okun language is spoken in Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti States and the full Okun Bible has been dedicated at The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Agirigbo, Ayetoro Gbede, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Sanusi at the event advised politicians to stop toying with peoples’ lives and address issues of national concern such as health facilities, education, and infrastructures among others.
