JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE STUDIES AND ARTS

Nigeria’s linguistic landscape features over 500 indigenous languages yet remains dominated by English—a colonial legacy sustained through education, governance, and media (60 million speakers). Despite policies like the NPE (1977, revised 2004) and the 2006 Language Policy promoting mother-tongue instruction in early schooling, implementation is weak due to insufficient materials, teacher shortages, and inconsistent enforcement. English hegemony persists, reinforced by societal attitudes linking it to modernity and socioeconomic opportunity. Indigenous languages face marginalization, intergenerational language shift, and risk of extinction. Nevertheless, grassroots movements, digital tools, and supportive NGOs are fostering revitalization efforts. This study advocates stronger policy enforcement, resource provision, and community engagement to preserve Nigeria’s multilingual heritage.

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