Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on clergymen and other preachers to use more of indigenous languages in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ewhrudjakpo made the call while addressing the leadership of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa Area, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The deputy governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, reasoned that the people would appreciate and understand the word of God better if it is preached in their own mother tongue.
He described the promotion of the English language at the detriment of the various indigenous Ijaw dialects as self-discrimination, stressing that churches and schools should serve as agents of language preservation.
Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that language, which forms an integral part of culture, also gives a people a unique identity and helps to foster better communication and learning in society.
He called on preachers and teachers to devise innovative methods of promoting the use of indigenous languages.
He, however, commended the Bible Society of Nigeria for their efforts in translating the Holy Bible to various Ijaw dialects.
Ewhrudjakpo particularly thanked the group for their hard work, sacrifices and commitment that culminated in the translation of the holy book into the Epie and Ogbia dialects and assured them of his support.
He said, “More often than not, we the Ijaw people have suffered a lot of self-discrimination, self-reduction, and self-disintegration because we don’t handle issues affecting us. We don’t teach our children our language in our churches and schools, the way they ought to be taught.
“In most cases, we promote the English, which is other people’s native language, more than our indigenous languages. Personally, I will like to see in the nearest future, where pastors will be preaching for long periods in our native dialects, using the bible that is translated in our languages.
“This is because when you talk to people in their language, they accept and understand your message better. It is very important that we are pushing and getting new ways of improving communication in the Ijaw language.
“I am aware that a lot goes into Bible translation. And so, I commend your effort in translating the Bible into the Ogbia and Epie dialects within a relatively short period of time.
“I will be very happy to partner with such an association. We should tell our story ourselves, because no one else will do a good job of talking about our successes”.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa Area and Leader of the delegation, Elder Ago Tamuno-Omoni, acknowledged Ewhrudjakpo’s dedication to the things of God and enjoined him to uphold his faith in the Lord.
Tamuno-Omoni enumerated various achievements of BSN to include translation of the bible into 26 dialects, including Kalabari, Okrika, Ogbia and Epie in record time amid financial constraints.
He solicited government’s partnership towards the preservation of dialects, adding that the association had succeeded in uploading eleven dialects of Nigerian languages into the Google platform for posterity.