By Maryam Diallo
As Nigeria faces severe environmental challenges, including desertification, deforestation, flooding, and pollution, leading to displacement, conflicts, and economic losses, Nigerian Government is yet to achieve its food policy which it aims to achieve by this year 2025, partly attributed to the aforementioned challenges. Giving the importance of the indigenous languages all over the world, inertia attitudes towards using indigenous languages in communicating scientific concepts effectively to the vulnerable populations, constitutes another clog in the wheel of progress in the area of Climate Change and Policy Administration for Food Security and Economic Growth in Nigeria. This paper examines the role of indigenous languages on Climate Change and Policy Administration for Food Security and Economic Growth in the Nigerian society, and the way out which includes communicating in indigenous languages as many people particularly the rural dwellers do not take mitigation and adaptation action seriously.
They don’t even believe that Climate Change indeed exists.key Words
Role, Indigenous Languages, Climate Change, Policy Administration, Food Security and Economic and Growth.
1.0 Introduction
As the world is having sleepless nights navigating the complex challenges of climate change, communicating issues to do with climate change in indigenous languages would help in mitigating the crisis. Effective communication that will enable the people particularly the rural dwellers to better understand climate change issues continues to be a challenge confronting mitigation. Insufficient representation of indigenous languages like Hausa in global discussions like the one we are having today and here, are marginalizing perspective from the indigenous people and inhibiting genuine inclusion and lasting solution. Recognizing and respecting indigenous languages and their cultural and moral contributions are essential for fighting the menace. Climate action will become more effective by integrating indigenous knowledge, adapting to local contexts, promoting sustainable practices, harnessing the power of communities, and fostering intergenerational learning. Indigenous climate communication is vital in shaping our collective response to the Climate Change and Policy Administration for Food Security and Economic Growth in Nigeria.
It is therefore pertinent to examine issues to do with communicating climate change as a challenge, food security policy of the Nigerian Government, the causes of the climate change, and the role of the indigenous languages
Statement of the Problem
There has been a general outcry especially by the advocates of utilizing our indigenous languages in confronting the complex challenges of climate change. Different researches posit that all efforts geared toward addressing the issue of climate change are done in foreign languages which are alien to the indigenous societies. The study sets out precisely to answer the following questions:
Can indigenous languages be used in changing the present narratives on climate change?
If yes how can the indigenous languages be applicable?
Any similar research on the role of indigenous languages on the climate change?
What are the merits of using the indigenous languages
2.0 Climate Change as a challenge
Climate Change is the way the world weather is changing. The Climate Change led to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in record history according to United Nations. Having identified Climate Change as a challenge that is confronting mankind, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Environmental Programmed (UNEP) worked together to put in place the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The search for intervention that will guarantee effective communication to enable people to understand Climate Change issues and encourage them to embrace mitigation and adaptation action led the United Nations (UN) through its Department of Global Communication to develop communication guidelines targeted at educating and mobilizing the people toward addressing the issues. This made Sian et al ; (2017), to urge nations across the world to design Climate Change Communication Strategies that will enable people to understand the issues that would encourage them to take mitigation and adaptation action. However, Nyer and Rydin (2008), in their explanation of the challenges facing the effective Climate Change Communication observed that stake – holders and non – stake holders alike are unable to design communication strategies that will enable people to understand the issues and encourage them to pursue mitigation and adaptation actions. Also Depoux et al (2017), point out that the extent the state and non – state actors will go in addressing climate change is largely dependent on how they communicate it to the people who plays a key role on how they perceive and respond to issues. Nerlic et al, (2010) admitted that the inability of the state and non-state actors to simplify Climate Change issues make it difficult for scientists to communicate them to people. This has become a big challenge to mobilize them for mitigation and adaptation action. Climate change impact across communities in Nigeria is increasingly manifesting in flooding, desertification and changes the rainfall pattern. Some of these impacts are resulting in poor agricultural yield and loss of livestock farming just to mention two examples. No wonder the Nigerian Government formulated policies towards achieving food security.
2.1 Food Security Policy of the Nigerian Government
Food security policy of the Nigerian government is a national instrument with a multi-dimensional approach, the long – term goal is to significantly improve food security of the population in increasing agricultural productivity as well as diversity and sustainable agricultural growth and development. The four pillars of food security are availability, access, utilization and stability. The economic benefit is benefits that can be qualified and quantified in terms of money generated such as net income, revenues, etc. The food security policy of the Nigerian government aims to achieve the goal of attaining an optimal nutritional status by the year 2025. Meaning to improve food security at the national, community and household levels: reduce under nutrition among infants and children, adolescents and women of reproductive age. Hotness in weather and changes in rainfall patterns making yams decay in storage facilities, poor grains yields are part of the repercussion. The Federal Ministry of Environment Climate Change Department 2011 report shows how Climate Change is impacting in Nigeria. It shows that if effective mitigation and adaptation action is not done, the country will lose about 11% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to Climate Change and may likely rise to 30% loss by the year 2050. It estimated the loss to be between 15 trillion and 69 trillion. The ministry argues that the Nigerian State needs to put a comprehensive Climate Change information management system in place that will enable effective communication. This means that effort targeted towards addressing Climate Change must consider how well it is being communicated to the people and how well they understand the issues. Hence when climate change issues are communicated using indigenous languages, the entire communities will understand what is being said especially the causes of climate change, and make it easy to mobilize them for mitigation and adaptation action.
2.2 The Causes of Climate Change
There are many factors causing Climate Change in our society. Prominent among them are:
Manufacturing and industry producing emissions mostly from burning of fossil fuels to produce energy for making things like cement, iron steel, electronics, plastics and other goods, mining and other industrial processes also release gases.
Cutting down forest to create farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions, since trees when they cut, release the carbon they have been storing. Since forest absorbs carbon dioxide, destroying them also limit nature’s ability to keep emissions out of the atmosphere.
Generating power. Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas causes a large chunk of global emission. Most electricity is still produced from fossil fuels, only about a quarter comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources.
Having examined some of the factors responsible for the climate change which are seriously affecting the government`s efforts towards achieving food security, thus the role of indigenous languages in mitigating the climate problems.
2.3 The Role of Indigenous Languages
Language is inseparable from our way of being, our thoughts, our joys and much more. It is through our language that we show who we are. When we talk of the role of indigenous languages on the Climate Change and Policy Administration for Food Security and Economic Growth, we are confessing that many technical terms such as emission, ozone layer, DE carbonization, etc that are being used in climate change communication need to be translated and simplified into indigenous languages. Audu (2024:52) in his research on the role of indigenous languages in Climate Change using selected FCT- Abuja communities as case studies, confirmed that the people understanding of Climate Change especially the rural dwellers is largely dependent of how it is communicated to them, and that the inability of the state and non-state actors to use indigenous languages as a language for Climate Change communication is a major reason a good number of people especially the locals do not have a better understanding of Climate Change issues. Utilizing indigenous languages brings inclusivity that ensures no one is left out of Climate Change discussions while it empowers them to participate in adaptation and mitigation actively towards achieving Food Security and Economic Development. Speaking at recent launch of the UNESCO Atlas of Languages, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Call Tzay, said that “Indigenous languages play an essential role in defining indigenous relationship with Mother Earth, preserving indigenous territory, transmitting indigenous worldviews, science, history and culture, and eradicating hunger by maintaining the integrity of indigenous food systems.” Therefore the contribution of indigenous knowledge to climate action, biodiversity, food security, land and water management and health is undisputed worldwide and of paramount importance. Mass media, NIMET, conferences themes have been underrating the magic behind using indigenous languages. Shekau to a remarkable extent used Hausa and Kanuri languages in mobilizing his followers as evidenced in the video clips he was releasing in those years. Climate action will become more effective by integrating indigenous knowledge, adapting to local contexts, promoting sustainable practices, harnessing the power of communities, and fostering intergenerational learning. Indigenous climate communication is vital in shaping our collective response to the climate change. As the world navigates the complex challenges of climate change, indigenous climate communication can transform our collective response to climate crisis.
A typical warning to the public by NiMet
12TH March, 2025
Findings
Complex climate jargons are not translated into indigenous languages for effective information dissemination to the grass root or rural dwellers.
No adequate awareness on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in our indigenous languages
Less public understanding of the environmental challenges facing the world
Inadequate programmes in the indigenous languages on the climate in both electronic and social media.
Conference organizers are not laying more emphasis on the role of the indigenous languages on climate change when formulating themes and sub-themes
Electronic media are not having adequate programmes and jingles on climate change and food security in our indigenous languages. Nigerian Metrological Agency should be made to sponsor some of the programmes and jingles.
Recommendations
Translate complex climate jargons into indigenous languages for effective information dissemination to the grass root or rural dwellers.
Raise awareness on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in our indigenous languages
Increase public understanding of the environmental challenges facing the world
Create more programmes in the indigenous languages on the climate in both electronic and social media.
Conference organizers should lay more emphasis on the role of the indigenous languages on climate change when formulating themes and sub-themes
Electronic media should create more programmes and jingles on climate change and food security in our indigenous languages. Nigerian Metrological Agency should be made to sponsor some of the programmes and jingles.
Conclusion
The role of indigenous languages on Climate Change and Policy Administration for Food Security and Economic Growth in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized. The paper dwelt into the role of indigenous languages, communicating climate change as a challenge, food security policy of the Nigerian government, the Causes of Climate Change, the Role of Indigenous languages and recommendations
References
Audu, L.O. (2024), Examining the Effectiveness of Indigenous Language in Climate Change Communication in Selected Communities of Federal. Adamawa State Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 12 Issue 1
Bangbose, A. (1991) “Speaking in Tongues Implication of Multilingual for language Policy”. Investment Ceremony/Award Lecture, University of Ilorin.
sDepoux, A. Hemono. M, Puig-Malet. S, Pedron. R, Flahault, A. (2017). Communicating Climate Change and Health in the Media. Public Health Review.
Federal Ministry of Environment, Climate Change Department (2011), National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change of Nigeria (NASPA-CCN). Abuja Federal Ministry of Environment.
Mawa. F, (2023), What is Climate Change? Community perception. Ayo Press, Abuja.
Nerlich. B., Koteyko. N, B, Brown. B. (2010), Theory and Language of Climate Change Communication. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 1
SAIS Perspectives (2023) PERSPECTIVES, A DEVELOPMENTAL CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLICATION, OF JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANVED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Tarhule, A (2005) “Climate Information for Development; An integrated Dissemination Model”, A Paper Presented in the 11th General Assembly of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa in Moputo, Mozambique, December 06 – 10, 2005.
United Nations (2003).
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By IS`HAQ IDRIS GUIBI (PhD)
Lecturer
Department of Languages
Kaduna Polytechnic
08023703754/08104884633
guibi2017@gmail.com
&
Facilitator
Department of Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages
National Open University of Nigeria
