Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Diri Moves to Strengthen Ijaw Language Preservation as Bayelsa Marks 30 Years
YENAGOA, Bayelsa State — Governor Douye Diri has announced government support for an online Ijaw language platform developed by young people and directed the state’s education authorities to intensify the teaching of Ijaw in schools as Bayelsa marks its 30th anniversary.
Diri made the commitment on Monday, September 28, 2026, during an Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa as part of activities marking three decades since the creation of Bayelsa State.
The governor also called on parents, schools and communities to take greater responsibility for passing the Ijaw language to younger generations, arguing that government and teachers alone cannot preserve the language.
The event brought together government officials, traditional rulers, students, cultural stakeholders and members of the public for discussions and activities centred on language, identity and cultural preservation.
Diri Backs Digital Approach to Ijaw Language
A major feature of the governor’s intervention was his support for an online Ijaw language platform created by young people.
According to AIT, Diri announced government backing for the platform as part of efforts to make the language more accessible to younger people and encourage its continued use in an increasingly digital environment.
The development places technology alongside conventional teaching and community-based efforts to preserve the language.
For a younger generation that increasingly interacts through smartphones, social media and digital platforms, online language resources could provide another avenue through which Ijaw can be learned, practised and passed between generations.
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Education to intensify the teaching of Ijaw in schools.
The instruction builds on earlier efforts by the Bayelsa government to strengthen the teaching of the indigenous language within the state’s education system.
In 2025, Diri appointed gospel musician Asu Ekiye as an Ijaw Language Ambassador and called on parents to teach their children the language as part of efforts to prevent it from declining. Vanguard and The Nation reported the appointment at the time.
Students Put Ijaw Language Skills on Display
The language campaign was not limited to speeches and official announcements.
Secondary school students participated in an Ijaw language-speaking contest, demonstrating their knowledge of Izon and highlighting the role schools can play in encouraging young people to use the language.
Nigerian Pilot reported that the contest formed part of the awareness campaign and brought the issue of language preservation directly into the educational environment.
The participation of students was significant because language preservation depends not only on documenting words and grammar but also on whether younger generations continue to speak the language in everyday life.
Diri urged schools and other institutions to encourage the use and teaching of Ijaw, while also asking parents to speak the language with their children at home.
The approach places responsibility across several parts of society rather than leaving language preservation solely to government institutions.
Government and Communities Share Responsibility
Speaking at the event, Diri warned that the Ijaw people could lose an important part of their identity if their native language is allowed to fade from everyday use.
He described language as a major symbol of identity and unity and urged Ijaw people to speak, teach and promote the language wherever they live.
The governor’s remarks reflected a broader challenge faced by indigenous languages in an increasingly globalised society, where younger people often move between local languages, Nigerian Pidgin and English depending on their environment.
For indigenous languages to remain widely used, preservation efforts generally have to extend beyond formal government programmes to homes, schools, cultural organisations, media and digital platforms.
The Bayelsa campaign therefore brought together several of those elements, combining public awareness, student participation, cultural performances and digital initiatives.
Bayelsa’s Cultural Identity at 30
The language campaign formed part of the wider programme marking Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary.
Bayelsa State was created on October 1, 1996, from the former Rivers State. The anniversary programme, themed “Bayelsa@30: Celebrating Legacies,” includes cultural activities, sporting events, exhibitions, public engagements, a boat regatta, musical performances and an anniversary dinner.
The Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign was scheduled as one of the opening activities of the celebrations.
The decision to place language and cultural identity among the opening anniversary activities gives the issue a prominent position in the state’s reflection on three decades of existence.
Beyond celebrating government achievements and infrastructure, the anniversary programme provides an opportunity for Bayelsa to examine aspects of its cultural heritage that communities want to preserve for future generations.
Earlier Efforts to Preserve Ijaw
The latest announcement is not the first time the Diri administration has highlighted the importance of Ijaw language preservation.
In March 2025, Diri appointed Asu Ekiye as Ijaw Language Ambassador during the musician’s concert and album launch in Yenagoa.
At the time, the governor said his administration had trained Ijaw language teachers and would continue efforts to promote the language.
Earlier government initiatives have also included the promotion of Ijaw language teaching in schools and the production of educational material intended to strengthen knowledge of Ijaw history and culture.
The governor’s latest directive therefore represents a continuation of a policy emphasis that has been developing over several years rather than an isolated anniversary announcement.
Why the Digital Platform Matters
The decision to support an online platform is particularly relevant because language preservation increasingly intersects with technology.
Young people who may not regularly encounter formal Ijaw language instruction can potentially access digital learning resources outside the classroom.
Online platforms can also provide opportunities for language learners living outside Bayelsa to maintain connections with the language and culture.
However, technology alone cannot guarantee the survival of an indigenous language.
A digital platform needs sustained content development, regular use, accurate language resources and participation from fluent speakers, teachers, cultural institutions and communities.
The continued use of Ijaw in homes and schools will remain equally important.
That is why Diri’s call for parents to speak the language with their children complements the government’s support for digital tools and school-based teaching.
A Wider Challenge for Indigenous Languages
The situation in Bayelsa reflects a broader challenge confronting indigenous languages in Nigeria and across Africa.
English remains central to formal education, government, business and national communication in Nigeria, while Nigerian Pidgin and other widely spoken languages also play important roles in everyday communication.
For smaller indigenous languages, this can create pressure on intergenerational transmission.
When children grow up understanding a language but rarely speaking it, the language can gradually lose its place in everyday communication.
The result can be a decline in the number of young fluent speakers, reduced use in homes and communities, and weaker transmission of cultural knowledge that is carried through language.
Language preservation therefore involves more than vocabulary. It can also involve oral history, traditional knowledge, songs, names, expressions, stories and cultural practices.
For Ijaw communities, strengthening language use can consequently form part of a wider effort to maintain cultural continuity.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step is for the Bayelsa education authorities to implement the governor’s directive to intensify Ijaw language teaching in schools.
The governor also announced that the Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign would be adopted as an annual event, according to AIT.
That could provide a recurring platform for schools, cultural organisations, teachers, parents and young people to promote the language beyond the current anniversary celebrations.
The development and use of the online Ijaw language platform will also be important to watch as government support takes shape.
For the initiative to have a lasting effect, its progress will depend on how effectively digital resources are integrated with classroom instruction and everyday language use.
As Bayelsa approaches the formal anniversary of its creation on October 1, the language campaign has placed cultural preservation alongside the state’s broader celebration of its history and development.
The central challenge now is translating the renewed attention into sustained use — particularly among children and young people.
For Diri’s administration, the message is that preserving Ijaw cannot be left to government alone. Parents, teachers, students, cultural leaders and communities will all have a role in ensuring that the language remains part of everyday life for future generations.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources:
AIT
Nigerian Pilot
Vanguard
The Nation
Bayelsa State Government
