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Use Pidgin For Sensitization Campaigns, Port Harcourt Drivers Call Out

By

Josiah Chijindu Egbilika

The use of Naija popularly called Nigerian Pidgin has been Advocated by drivers in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital to be use when carrying out sensitization campaigns by institutions.

The call to use Nigerian Pidgin as a communication means for sensitization programmes was made when the Federal Road Safety Corps, Rivers State command carried out a sensitization programme on safe driving and observing Road Safety Rules especially as the raining season intensifies.

According to the drivers, the use of pidgin will make them understand the message communicated better. 

Federal Road Safety Corps sensitize drivers on road safety in Port Harcourt 

This does not negates the fact that they are unable to understand English, which currently serves as the official language in Nigeria but the call is to promote the use of Pidgin in social space.

In Nigeria, over 90% of people understand and communicate with Nigerian Pidgin. The once creole language has been identified as a full language but unfortunately, it is yet to be made an official language in Nigeria.

Nigerian Pidgin no doubt has various variations which can be called dialects. It has three recognized and acceptable dialects which include: Pitakwa dialect spoken in Rivers State, Wafi in Delta State, Ajegunle in Lagos. Although, more dialects are coming like the Una dialect of pidgin spoken in Calabar.

Cross Section of Participants during the FRSC sensitization Campaign in Port Harcourt 

Pidgin is more Nigerian. It is from Nigeria and is better related to by Nigerians. In a radio programme called #LanguageHealth aired every Wednesday at NigeriaInfo 92.3 FM from 9pm, a caller who said he's a Ghanaian stated that the pidgin spoken in Ghana was adopted or rather export from Nigeria. This shows that Nigerian Pidgin has been naturalized in Ghana and now been referred to as Ghanaian Pidgin.

In 2015, pidgin has been recognized as an official language in Hawaii. In the about hundred languages spoken in Hawaii, pidgin is not only among but accorded the status of an official language in the country.

The call by the drivers adds to the numerous calls to make Nigerian Pidgin an official Pidgin. One of such advocate is Mr. Josiah Chijindu Egbilika who for over half a decade has urged the government to pay attention and make Nigerian Pidgin official in the nation.

Josiah Chijindu Egbilika in on of his #LanguageHealth shows @NigeriaInfo 92.3 FM every Wednesday from 9pm Nigerian Time

It will be recalled that Mr. Josiah Egbilika, an indigenous language advocate has published an article, seeking that pidgin should be used as the language of communication in social spaces and programmes.

See: Use Of Indigenous Language In Social Environment Programmes Advocated

The call by the drivers is an additional voice to the numerous calls and advocacy programmes by language advocates, scholars and well meaning individuals to make the language an official language in Nigeria. This will cushion the negative attitudes towards the language and allow it free hand to be used in social spaces, formal and informal situations.


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