Benin: Edo language policy

BNC makes case for Edo language policy

Written by Simon Ebegbulem
Tuesday, 25 March 2008

THE Benin National Congress (BNC) a socio-cultural organisation in
 Edo State, has urged the state House of Assembly to prevail on the
relevant authorities in the state to implement the Edo language
 policy in all private and public schools, so as to save the cultural
 heritage of the Binis from extinction The Congress through a letter addressed
to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Zakawanu Garuba,
signed by its National President, Mr Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, lamented
that non-teaching of the  subject as well as the significance of the
cultural heritage such as dancing steps, artifact, moats, dresses and
historical tales has in no small measure denied the younger
generations of the essence of enculturation.

It pointed out that Edo language was listed among the languages to
extinct before the year 2020 by the United National Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) report of last year,
saying that since the emergence of that report, governments and
concerned groups across the globe have been articulating ways to save
their heritage from the “sad prediction”. “As a cultural heritage
group, we hold our people the duty to raise the stake for the safety
of our heritage hence our resolve to humbly appeal to you to ensure
that not only is Edo language taught in our schools, it must be made
compulsory for every student of Edo State origin to secure a pass as
 a promotional yardstick” it stated.

Full story:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5417&Itemid=44 More on Edo language