— Prof. Promise Mebine Identifies Light, Sound, Symbols, Other Equipment as Key Products of Language
by Ebido Lucky, Head, Publications Unit
Professor Promise Mebine, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Otuoke, has identified light, sound, symbols, projector, microphone, handset and other equipment as products of language.
The 4th Substantive Vice Chancellor, FUO, made the remarks while declaring open the Language Teachers Association of Nigeria 2nd Annual Conference with the theme “Recalibrating Language Education in a Digital Age” at the School of Postgraduate Studies Auditorium, Wednesday, 28th October, 2026, on the West Campus of the University.
Professor Mebine hinted that every discipline has peculiar language for human communication and urged parents and language teachers to be focused, and use the right language to train children.
The Keynote Speaker, Professor Obiajulu Emejulu, in his presentation on the theme, “Recalibrating Language Education in a Digital Age,” described language as a universal phenomenon.
Quoting John 1:1, Professor Emejulu said God created man in His image through the spoken word and infused in him the ability to create things, adding that language was there from the beginning.
He said Recalibrating Language Education in a Digital Age is to use technological devices such as software, computer language, sign language, translating of books, programmes, curriculums, language platforms or groups, among others, in the local languages to facilitate teaching, learning and communicating in daily interactions.
The Keynote Speaker noted that language shapes policy development, cognitive skills, instructions, facilitates cooperation and communication, develop ideas, repository of culture and drives social evolution.
He identified over 530 languages spoken in Nigeria and expressed concern over the silent crisis at homes due to failure of parents to speak local languages to their children, emphasizing that there is need for children to have strong root in the indigenous languages in order to prevent them from going extinct.
Professor Emejulu lamented the withdrawal of the National Language Policy passed in 2004 by the Federal Government. Earlier, in his welcome address, the National President of LANTAN, Dr. Nnamdi Anumihe, informed that the Association was formed on 16th February, 2025, at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, during the tenure of Professor Aloysius Onyeka as Acting Vice Chancellor.
According to him, the foundation building blocks of the Association was set up by Professor Mike Olugbenga Ajileye, Dr. Nnamdi Anumihe, Professor Chris Onyema and Dr. Sandra Akueshi with mission to bring together all interested teachers of language in educational institutions in Nigeria under one umbrella association to facilitate developmental programs for language teachers and enjoined others to register as members.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee of the Conference, Dr. Merosobo Lawson Ikuru, who is the Ag. Head English and Communication Studies, and Linguistics Department of FUO, while welcoming delegates to the Conference, described the theme as very significant, stressing that digitizing language promote culture, values and enhance political survival.
She said the papers that will be presented will fill the existing gap between the academia and the society in language studies, development and preservation.
Dr. Ikuru thanked the National leadership of LANTAN for granting the FUO the right to host the Conference.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, represented by the Assistant Manager, Branding, Mrs. Salamatu Ibrahim, in his goodwill message said communication is an interaction between people from diverse backgrounds with language as the key driver, adding that the importance NCDMB attaches to language informed the board to initiate the National Annual Undergraduate Essay Competition open to 100/200 level students from all Nigerian Universities, Secondary Schools Quiz Competition, training of language teachers, book reading programs among others as measures to appreciate and interpret languages.
Dr. Sokari Stanley, a Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Civil Service, in his goodwill message said an aspect of good context of language is to speak it, saying that the keynote speaker has set the pace and advised everyone to follow suit.
In his contributions to the theme of the Conference, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, FUO, Professor Chris Onyema, who doubles as the South-South Coordinator of LANTAN, said the economies of language hypothesis and how to empower language is to speak it or lose it.
He advocated for learning and speaking of local languages as a precondition for foreigners coming into our communities in search of greener pastures, as done in China.
In his remarks, the Royal Father of the Day, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agadah IV, Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ebenanaowei of Ekpetiana Clan, thanked the organisers of the Conference for the invitation and award of Honorary Fellow on him.
The Bayelsa Monarch urged Language Teachers to let students know the importance of learning and speaking local languages to enable us solve the puzzle of language studies, define the incentives, adding that language sells everything.
The high point of the Conference was the commissioning of LANTAN Online Platform by Professor Promise Mebine and presentation of awards.
The award recipients include His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agadah IV, Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ebenanaowei of Ekpetiama Clan, and the Vice Chancellor, FUO, Professor Promise Mebine, as Honorary Fellows of LANTAN.
Others include Dr. Nnamdi Anumihe, Fellow, Professor Michael Olugbenga, Fellow, and Professor Chris Onyema, Fellow. The Conference featured entertainment of participants by students of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, questions and discussions, plenary sessions, virtual presentations, among others.
