INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY 2022.

 Today, the 21st of February 2022, marks the international mother language day. The international mother language day was established as the initiative of Bangladesh in 1999 and is celebrated globally today. The day was approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, and it is now celebrated every year since 2000. The theme for this year 2022 international mother language day is "Using technology for multilingual learning: challenges and opportunities". Every year on February 21st, the world commemorates international mother language day to raise awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism. The day is a part of a larger campaign to encourage the preservation and conservation of all languages spoken around the world. Language is an expression, a sentiment that aligns us with humankind and enables us to remove barriers within ourselves. On this international mother language day, let us head out unspoken thoughts, pour our conscience out, and nurture the best in ourselves. International mother language day is an initiative promoting the protection and preservation of all languages.

There are 6,000 languages spoken around the world today. Linguistic diversity is our common treasure filled with cultural and intellectual heritage. We must preserve it. Though we may be divided by different languages and cultures, we still share the same world. Let's us embrace all cultures and languages and preserve them for the common good of generations to come. The United Nations has mentioned that every two weeks a language is lost and at least 43% of the estimated 6,000 languages spoken in the world are in danger. So please join me to promote the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity and multilingualism for peaceful and sustainable societies. Mother tongue is an important element in retaining our cultural heritage. It fosters better understanding and builds more genuine connections between people. Let's always strive to keep it alive. Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them, no one can share their hopes and aspirations. Nelson Mandela once said " lf you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. Mother languages are the lens through which the world is first understood and voiced. They matter for our identities. Protecting them is a matter of human rights.

International mother language day is observed throughout the world since 21st February 2000, this day is an opportunity to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to reflect on the importance of language in the transmission and preservation of traditional knowledge and cultures. We all have that language that we hold close to our hearts, the one that defines who we are. Our mother language is what gives us our identity and we must always be proud of it. Today and everyday, let's celebrate the rich diversity of languages spoken around the world and here at home, each carrying with it the unique cultures, knowledge and traditions that make up our incredible human spectrum. Mother language is more than just a means to communicate, it represent thousands of years of ongoing history  and culture. Being able to pass on the mother language to future generations is essential to keeping a strong identity. Mother language is an expression of ideas, thoughts, feelings, culture and emotion. Our mother tongues are our respective languages that we have learned from birth and also called as our first language.

On this day let us all pledge to teach and encourage our children to learn their mother tongue, respect and be proud of their mother language. Mother tongue helps develop a child's personal, social and cultural identity. It helps a child develop their critical thinking and literacy skills. Mother language connects us with our culture. If we want to preserve and transmit our languages, children must be able to learn in their mother tongue. From the first words we learn to utter and express ourselves in, mother language shapes our overall development as individuals and the evolution of our societies. On this international mother language day, let us salute languages across the world that give voice to humanity, build bridges among the people and create the wonderful literature of love, liberty and life. On this day, let's pledge to foster an environment of respect for diverse languages and cultures across the globe. We should learn to preserve our mother tongue from extinction. Our roots, cultures and languages are always something to be proud of. Let's celebrate our mother language and be proud of it.

       WORD ON THE MARBLE (QUOTE)

"Langue is the blood of the soul in which thoughts move and from which they grow"- Oliver Wendell.

#lnternationalMotherLanguageDay2022 #UNESCO #GlobalGoals #UNDP UnitedNations.

 BRIEF PERSONAL PROFILE OF ENOBONG EKWERE - SOCIAL ACTIVIST/ DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN NIGERIA.

Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, vlogger, human rights activist, peace practitioner, grassroot social mobilizer, SDGs advocate and a global citizen. Enobong Ekwere also have vast knowledge and professional expertise in copy writing, content creation, online and offline media campaigning. He is the program manager of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP), an organic, volunteer of experts, youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate of Public Administration (Upper Credit) from the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. Enobong Ekwere holds a proficiency certificate in management from the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered (NIM) Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a graduate member of the institute (Associate member in view). He works with young people in local communities across Nigeria localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs)  (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) and positive peace frameworks in Nigeria, accelerating action online and offline, engaging duty bearers and policy makers to be accountable for it's implementation by 2030. He is a strong advocate of peace, good governance and democracy, accountability in government, freedom of information, freedom of expression, access to information, free press, social justice and social inclusion. As a youth advocate and a global leader who loves to see social reforms in the society, he uses his personalized blog to write compelling stories on developmental and topical issues on national and global concern that shapes and transform people's lives and impact the larger society for knowledge transfer and lifelong learning. He engages in community service and volunteerism, community outreach, social mobilization and advocacy tours to hard to reach local communities in Nigeria advocating and advancing the cause of the SDGs (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) so that no community and youth in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large would be left behind. CYPLP as an organization works primarily in serving vulnerable population of children, youth, elderly persons, people living with disabilities (PLWD's) and women in unserved, underserved, underrepresented and marginalized local communities in Nigeria.

My areas of competence in peace education and peace building process includes;

1. Conflict mapping, sensitivity and analysis

2. Negotiation, mediation and reconciliation

3. Interreligious and intercultural dialogue

4. Protection of civilians

5. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)

6. Security sector reforms (SSR)

7. Mainstreaming gender in peace keeping

8. Mainstreaming gender in peace and state building

9. Crisis management/resolution

10. Media and conflict

11. Conflict and natural resources

12. Conflict prevention

13. Peace support operations (PSOs)

14. Post- conflict reconstruction and development

15. Humanitarian action

16. Transnational organized crime

17. Piracy and maritime security

18. Preventing violent extremism (PVE) etc.

Enobong Ekwere has an extensive professional working experience in projects such as;

1. PRELT (Prevention of radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism)

2. BRAVE (Building resilience against violent extremism)

3. iDOVE (Interfaith dialogue on violent extremism) in local communities across Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.

I have initiated two projects to counter religious and violent extremism among the youths in local communities in Nigeria, and one empowerment program, these are;

1. CAARE ( Countering Attitudes Against Religious Extremism)

2. CAAVE (Countering Attitudes Against Violent Extremism)

3. NEET (Not in Education, Empowerment or Training) an empowerment training program aimed at training vulnerable population of young people in local communities in Nigeria with leadership skills, entrepreneurial and vocational skills acquisition.

He can be reached via:

Tel/WhatsApp: +2347082558952

Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com

            : enobongekwere825@gmail.com

MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/enobong.ekwere.372

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/Enobongekwere2

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/enobongekwere825

LINKEDIN: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enobong-ekwere-3271b116b

MY ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/cyplp.net.ng/

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/youngpeoplefor/

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/cyplp/

WEBSITE: 

www.cyplp.net.ng

VOLUNTEER - INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IHRC) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.