From policy to practice: Implementation strategies for the national language policy in Nigeria

Abstract

The National Language Policy (NLP), developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) was adopted in 2022. It represents Nigeria’s first comprehensive framework for regulating the status, functions, and use of its over 540 indigenous languages. Anchored on the principle of social change for sustainable development, the policy seeks to preserve endangered languages, promote linguistic equity, and enhance their utilisation across multiple domains, including education, governance, media, technology, health, and security. The NLP draws on global best practices in status, corpus, language-ineducation, and prestige planning models, and was developed through an inclusive, multisectoral process engaging key stakeholders. To drive its implementation, the National Language Policy Implementation Guideline (NLPIG) provides strategies in legislation, research and development, advocacy, capacity building, resource creation, translation, quality assurance, infrastructure provision, partnerships, creativity promotion, monitoring, and financing. This paper explores some strategies for the implementation of the policy and the successful execution of the NLP which depends on sustained collaboration, adequate resourcing, and strong stakeholder commitment. It reiterates the policy’s aims not only to safeguard Nigeria’s linguistic heritage but also to advance national unity, participatory governance, socio-economic growth, and cultural identity.