By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has cautioned that the Ijaw people risk losing an important part of their identity if they allow their native language to fade from everyday life.
Diri made the call on Monday at the Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Onopa, Yenagoa, as part of activities marking Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary.
Speaking to an audience of government officials, traditional rulers, students and other citizens, the governor urged Ijaw people to speak, teach and promote the Ijaw language wherever they find themselves.
He said language remains one of the strongest symbols of a people’s identity and unity.
According to him, “a people without their language have lost their identity,” stressing that the survival of the Ijaw nation depends partly on how seriously its people preserve their language and pass it on to younger generations.
Diri therefore called on parents to speak Ijaw with their children at home, while urging schools and other institutions to encourage the use and teaching of the language.
The message came alive as secondary school students took turns displaying their knowledge of Izon in a language-speaking contest, drawing attention to the importance of giving young people the opportunity to learn and use their indigenous language.
The event also featured cultural performances and entertainment, including a colourful presentation by the award-winning Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture.
For many of the young participants, the gathering was more than a celebration. It offered a reminder that the language they speak—or may be learning to speak—is part of the story of who they are.
The campaign attracted the governor’s wife, Dr. Gloria Diri; Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe; members of the National Assembly and Bayelsa State House of Assembly; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; political and community leaders, as well as other distinguished citizens.
As Bayelsa celebrates 30 years as a state, the message from the gathering was clear: celebrating the future also means protecting the cultural identity inherited from the past.
