The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the state government to mandate the teaching of Efik language across all primary and secondary schools within the state.
The Assembly also recommended that each Local Government Area (LGA) adopt its most widely spoken indigenous language as a compulsory subject in schools within its jurisdiction.
This resolution was reached following deliberations on a motion sponsored by Hon. Bassey Effiong, member representing Akpabuyo State Constituency.
In presenting his motion, Hon. Bassey expressed concern over the gradual erosion of the state’s rich cultural identity, particularly in local dialects, traditional attire, cuisine, and dance forms.
“The most worrying aspect is that many of our dialects are on the brink of extinction. A significant number of children neither understand nor speak their native languages, and even fewer can read or write them,” Bassey lamented.
While recognising that Efik is already included in some school curricula, the lawmaker pointed out that students often choose other Nigerian languages such as Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa instead.
He also supported the revival of major indigenous languages like Efik, Bekwara, and Ejagham in radio and television news broadcasts and programmes.
To enhance language education, the Assembly suggested establishing Departments of Indigenous Languages at the State University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa and other state-owned tertiary institutions.
Additionally, Hon. Bassey proposed that the predominant indigenous language in each LGA be determined by a simple majority vote of local legislative councils.
During the debate, several lawmakers expressed concerns over the decreasing use of native languages among young people, warning that continued neglect could eventually lead to the extinction of these languages.
The motion was unanimously approved by the House and will be included in a forthcoming bill for the establishment of a Centre for Indigenous Languages, Culture, and Heritage.
Lawmakers affirmed that the initiative aligns with the National Policy on Education.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, commended Hon. Bassey for raising the motion and praised members for their unanimous support.
He expressed optimism that the resolutions, once implemented, would preserve the state’s linguistic heritage and encourage younger generations to embrace their indigenous identities.
