Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

The issue of multilingualism is usually bedevilled with language and leadership problems. This paper examines language and leadership situation in a multilingual nation, with particular attention to Nigeria. It seeks to find out the best way of harnessing Nigeria’s multilingual nature for the good and progress of the country. It first discusses the importance of language and the problems associated with its multiplicity. It goes further to look at the issues of ethnicity and leadership. The paper associates the problems of language and leadership in Nigeria to the country’s multilingual nature/multiplicity of ethnic groups. It advocates the recognition of all the Nigerian indigenous languages as equal. Government should consider restructuring Nigeria and making the regions or states to be more powerful and to manage their resources; while the central government handles national security issue and few other issues. The paper also recommends establishment of an Institute to be saddled with the responsibility of promoting indigenous Nigerian languages and ensuring that every language is given equal opportunity to develop. With these measures, the ‘minority languages’ would feel a sense of belonging, while the attachment of various languages and the country’s leadership to ethnicity would be reduced to the barest minimum.

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