By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria - November 20, 2025(Series news online)- A prominent Nigerian businessman, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, has expressed concern over the country's new language policy, saying it contradicts global best practices and could undermine education, culture, and national identity.
"The policy is a step backward for education and national identity," Danmaliki, President of the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), stated at a press conference in Bauchi.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Education, relevant agencies, and stakeholders to urgently review the policy to protect Nigeria's linguistic and cultural heritage.
"Nigeria's decision goes against global best practices and its own educational heritage. Language is not just a tool of communication, it is a vessel of culture, thought, and identity. A nation that neglects its languages risks intellectual dependency and cultural extinction," Danmaliki emphasized.¹
According to him, countries like China, France, Japan, and Ethiopia prioritize mother tongue education as a foundation for national development, while Nigeria is moving in the opposite direction.
"The UNESCO and UN conventions, along with Nigeria's previous National Policy on Education, emphasized the use of a child's first language or community language in early schooling. The new policy, however, reaffirms English as the primary medium from the outset," he said.
Danmaliki warned that abandoning indigenous languages could lead to cognitive disadvantages, cultural alienation, and increased inequality among children.
He recommended a balanced approach, teaching in mother tongue during early primary education (P1-P3) and gradually introducing English, followed by bilingual instruction at upper primary levels (P4 onward).
"Nigeria's strength lies in its diversity. Our indigenous languages are not obstacles; they are resources, treasures, and pillars of identity," Danmaliki stressed.
The BACCIMA president proposed strengthening mother-tongue education, training indigenous language teachers, and promoting indigenous language use in governance and commerce.
He emphasized that the new policy must be reassessed to ensure national unity, social justice, and a brighter future for Nigerian children.
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Education