On October 1, 2026, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri expressed his administration's commitment to the Ijaw Language App project, code-named Dayama Demo. The pledge was made at the Ijaw Language Awareness Summit, themed "Reviving The Izon Language: Heritage, Our Identity, Our Future," held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa. This event was part of the activities marking the 30th anniversary of the state's creation.
Governor Diri voiced concern over the gradual extinction of the Ijaw language and urged his kinsmen and all Bayelsans to make a conscious effort to revive it. This, he emphasized, is crucial to preserving their identity as a people for the younger generation. The governor commended popular Ijaw music act, Asu Ekiye, for convening the summit and for being a true ambassador of the Ijaw nation.
The summit, according to Governor Diri, would henceforth be an annual event in the state. He also lauded a former Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs in the state, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Ijaw language presenter, Erema Yanga, among others, for ensuring that the Ijaws do not lose their heritage. The governor called on private organisations and individuals to join the government in supporting creative talents that have been at the forefront of promoting the language.
Governor Diri urged the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to work with the government on the Ijaw revival project, as well as reactivate the Prof. Kay Williamson Centre at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area. He directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that quizzes and debates in Ijaw language are organised in primary and secondary schools in the state.
The governor noted that the move to resuscitate the Ijaw language was started by his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, in 2018. At that time, Kolokuma dialect was adopted as the official language in the state, and 200 teachers were recruited to teach the language in every public school. This initiative, Governor Diri said, was a significant step towards preserving the Ijaw language and culture.
In his remarks, Dr. Felix Tuodolo identified challenges affecting the survival of the Ijaw language, noting that parents no longer communicate with their children in their mother tongue. This, he stressed, is a major obstacle to the language's preservation. The Ijaw Language Awareness Summit aims to address these challenges and promote the use of the Ijaw language among its speakers.
The Ijaw Language Awareness Day, Governor Diri announced, will be an annual event anchored in the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs. Next year's event will be held in an open field at the sports complex, where all families, mothers, and fathers will converge to celebrate the Ijaw language and culture. The event seeks to promote the preservation of the Ijaw language, mode of dressing, and cuisine that make up the sum total of their culture and tradition.
Key points
- Governor Diri pledges support for the Ijaw Language App project to preserve the Ijaw language and culture.
- The Ijaw Language Awareness Summit aims to address challenges affecting the survival of the Ijaw language.
- The event will be an annual celebration to promote the Ijaw language and culture.
