February 21 is International Mother Language Day, and reminds us why indigenous language, and multilingualism are important. I remember when we moved from Zaki-Biam to Ile-Ife. I was 5, and could speak only little English. I was trying to speak to our Edo Neighbour in Tiv, and- 
-she couldn't understand. I screamed - "Oghale we gande gande nahan u fa zua Tiv ga a?" (Oghale as old as you are you don't know how to speak Tiv) 😄😄. Anyway, I'm glad I still speak Tiv despite living far away, and learning Yoruba.Unfortunately, I regret not learning Igbo and -
-and Hausa despite schooling in Enugu and working in Abuja. Hausa especially is my undoing, cos I was a journalist, and interviewing when you don't speak the local language well can be crazy. I always needed an interpreter. Once, in Gudumbali (Borno) I had to interview a local-
-who could only speak Kanuri, not even Hausa that I can mix and match a bit. Anyway, my interpreter could speak Hausa but not Kanuri; I got another local who could speak Kanuri and Hausa, but no English. Long story short, I ended up interviewing 3 people: Kanuri-Hausa-English 😆
- You really never know when knowing an extra language- local and international- comes in handy. Unfortunately, it's not easy learning new languages as an adult. So if you have kids/younger ones, encourage them to be multi-lingual. They should pay more attention to the French -
-teacher in secondary school. They should try to learn the local languages if they school outside their state. Download Duolingo. This year, the theme is "Languages without borders". - By bringing their speakers closer together, by allowing them to flourish in a shared context,
By bringing their speakers closer together, by allowing them to flourish in a shared context, mother tongues generate social inclusion, innovation and imagination. They also breathe life into cultural diversity and serve as instruments of peace."- (D.G Unesco)
How many languages do you speak? Have they made a difference for you? Do you have any special language stories?
