Professor Francis Egbokhare of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, in conjunction with 9ja Language Network, held a Conference in honour of Emeritus Professor Ben Ohi Elugbe on October 2, 2024 at KAAF Auditorium, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan.
The conference, tagged, Naija Na Helele: Nigerian pidgin in the global, local and in-between contexts held for four days starting from October 2-5, 2024. The conference brought together people who speak pidgin and those who want to see how they can fit in and learn this speaking style, especially as a language that connects people of different tongues and tribes in Nigeria.
The conference featured the presentation of a pidgin dictionary, edited by Professor Egbokhare, who is also the convener of the conference. Not only this, the conference also had in attendance personalities from different walks of life and as well as featured the presentation of abstracts from different categories of people.
Also, Awards were given to the best three entries of the “National Anthem Challenge” competition. Out of the 10 entries, the top three were selected based on their lyrics, rhythm, interpretation and presentation. The first position, Multiple Blessing Alozie received a sum of one hundred thousand naira. The second position, Clementina Edore Owumi received the sum of fifty thousand naira while the third position, Helen Eweluka received the sum of thirty thousand naira.
Certificates of excellence were presented to some individuals that have demonstrated the spirit of voluntarism and selfless acts. “Voluntarism and selflessness are godly and also a sign of nationalism,” hence, the reason for the award and honour,” says Prof Egbokhare, the Convener of the Conference.
In attendance was Dr. Tunde Adegbola, the chairman of the event; Professor Christine Ofulue from the National Open University, Abuja who was also the keynote speaker. Emmett Strickland, a Phd student of the Paris Nanterre University, France; Other Lecturers from the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Faculty of Arts were also in attendance.
Pidgin language was spoken at the conference to harness the growth of Naija so far and to chart its further advancement under an umbrella body.
