Following the reintroduction and directive by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Benue State on the Teaching of Tiv Language in Primary and Post Primary Schools in the State.

The Mzoo u Zwa Tiv (Tiv Language Studies and Development Association) in collaboration with Teaching Service Board (TSB), Science and Technical Education Board (STEB) has organized a workshop on training and retraining of Teachers on the teaching of Tiv Language. The workshop kick-started today at Government Model School, Makurdi, 9th July, 2019 at 9:00am.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Executive Secretary, Prof. Wilfred Terlumun Uji called on participants to redouble their efforts toward revamping Zwa Tiv, saying “IF THERE IS NO LANGUAGE, EVERYTHING WILL BE IN SHAMBLES” Alu er zwa u a lu ga, kwaghmôm un a za hemen ga! Professor Uji promised to support the Mzoo U Zwa Tiv, and encouraged people to indulge in the study in the language, saying, those who may study the language, there would be ready jobs for them.

Delivering a keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Ede represented by Director, Education Support Services, Mr. Jonathan Bumkeng, thanked the Mzoo U Zwa Tiv for their resilience and untiring efforts in sustaining their mother tongue. She encouraged participants to be attentive at the workshop. The Permanent Secretary promised to support the Mzoo U Zwa Tiv at all times. She emphasized that the teaching of Tiv Language must be carried out in every school as directed by the Ministry.

In a goodwill message at the workshop, the President-General, Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Engr Edward Ujege, thanked the organizers and encouraged them to maintain the tempo towards protecting our dear language from extinction. He reiterated the need for the teaching and learning of Tiv language and called on traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to embrace this aspect. The President-General beseeched the Government to implement the teaching of Tiv Language at all levels of education in the State.

In a similar vein, the Executive Secretary, Science and Technical Education Board, Athanasius Tyogema Ugbohoh, thanked the Mzoo U Tiv for the good works, and pledged his support in this direction, saying mother tongue is the basis for understanding foreign languages.

Earlier in a welcome address, Revd Fr Tagesa Akpagher, the Committee Chairman, thanked the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for the approval granted to organize the workshop, saying, this singular gesture would go a long way in reviving and sustaining the Tiv Language. He appreciated the TSB and STEB for their collaboration on this subject. Fr Akpagher implored participants to take the workshop seriously and endeavour to impart the necessary knowledge acquired at the workshop to younger ones in their respective schools.

Present at the opening ceremony were, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Ede, was represented by the Director of Education Support Services, Mr. Jonathan I. Bumkeng, the Executive Secretary, Teaching Service Board, Prof. Wilfred Terlumun Uji, the Executive Secretary, Mr. Athanasius Tyogema Ugbohoh, the First Professor of Zwa Tiv, Prof. Kpamor J. T. Orkar, The President-General, Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Engr Edward Ujege, Revd Frs James Shizaaiorchacha Bature, Timothy Msugh Anom, the President Mzoo u Zwa Tiv and Tagesa Akpagher were present at the occasion. Others include Sir Andy Jov, the Director School Services with TSB, Mr. Bem Tiv, the General Secretary, Mzoo u Zwa Tiv, Mrs. Comfort Dooga-Umande, Information Officer, TSB and Mr. Emmanuel Mase, the Committee Secretary amongst other signatories.

The workshop is to continue on Wednesday 10th July, 2019; St. Andrew’s Secondary School Adikpo for participants in Zone A while on Thursday 11th July, 2019; Mdzough U Tiv National Secretariat, No.8 Captain Dawns Road, Gboko at 9:00am respectively.

MASE Emmanuel Iorungwa
Committee Secretary

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