The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) played host to the African Languages Conference, a prestigious gathering of scholars and researchers committed to the preservation and revitalisation of African languages.
The conference, which took place in February 2025, was held at the ASUU Secretariat Auditorium and drew experts from across the globe to discuss ways to ensure that African languages are not lost to extinction.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, emphasised the urgent need to keep African languages alive in the face of cultural and technological shifts. “We participated in the African Languages Conference currently underway at the University of Port Harcourt. Participants are brainstorming on how to keep alive our African languages,” he stated.
Prof. Georgewill further highlighted the importance of integrating African languages into digital transformation and social justice to ensure inclusivity for all, regardless of linguistic background. “We commended the organizers for this very unique conference that aims at cultural globalization that allows African languages for digital transformation and social justice. The woman in Abonnema who doesn’t understand the English language must not be left out in social justice. African languages must be revived and not allowed to die,” he affirmed.
As part of the conference activities, UNIPORT’s management also received a courtesy visit from distinguished scholars and researchers in the field of African languages and literature. The delegation was led by Ady Namaran, Director and Co-Founder of the African Languages Conference, alongside Franca Umasoye Igwe, Project & Outreach Coordinator of the conference.
The annual conference continues to serve as a platform for harnessing the rich linguistic heritage of Africa, ensuring that African languages remain vibrant and relevant in contemporary society. “The annual conference is aimed at harnessing African languages to ensure African languages are revived and not go into extinction,” the Vice-Chancellor noted.
The event, as contained in This Week in Retrospect at UNIPORT, reinforced the university’s role as a centre for linguistic and cultural preservation in Africa.
