The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Foubiri Ayakoroma has described Nigerian indigenous languages as necessary weapon for the growth of the nation, saying language as a major component of culture is a medium to showcase the pride and potential of ethnic groups, communities and the nation.

Foubiri Ayakoroma made this known during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Nigerian Indigenous Languages Programme held at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin in Kwara State recently. He expressed urgency for the need to rescue, protect and revive Nigerian languages through the interventionist indigenous language programme.

"NICO with the primary responsibility of harnessing our cultural resources to meet the challenges of social integration, peace, unity and national development is commencing a four week intensive training on six indigenous languages - Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Nupe, Tiv, Izon and Batonu", he said.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of the state, Peter Kishira represented by Barrister Kayode Towoju expressed delight in the timely programme and called on the participants to make proper use of the programme. He promised that the state will intensify efforts towards remolding young people, especially with respect to moral and cultural values.

Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa, represented by the Chief Whip of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Liman in his address, commended the effort of NICO towards reaching out to people through the staging of indigenous language quizzes and debates among the students. He urged them to extend the gesture to other languages in other areas especially, Nupe which is the second largest spoken language in the zone.