Professor of Applied Linguistics, Mercy Olufunmilayo Adesanya, has presented an audio Bible in various Nigerian indigenous languages.
She emphasized that these translations have the transformative potential to address societal challenges in Nigeria.
Adesanya, a former presidential candidate of the Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), believes that indigenous languages are crucial for the nation’s cultural, social, economic, and political development.
In her speech during the 57th Inaugural Lecture at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Adesanya highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting these languages to maintain cultural diversity, improve education, build communities, promote economic growth, and foster national pride.
She stated, “I hereby present the audio Bible in Nigerian indigenous languages as having the transformative potential to solve Nigeria’s societal challenges.”
Adesanya also recalled the contributions of Bishop Ajayi Crowther, the pioneer of linguistics in Nigeria and Africa, who translated the English Bible into Yoruba in 1883.
She noted that Bishop Crowther’s work laid a foundation for the linguistic development in the region.
In addition, Adesanya introduced the concept of Artificial Intelligence Linguistics (AIL) as a new branch of Applied Linguistics.
This subfield focuses on the interaction between computers and human language, aiming to develop systems that can process and understand language in a more human-like manner.
Adesanya’s lecture also acknowledged the efforts of organizations like Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), which provides audio Bibles in nearly 70 Nigerian languages and over 2,128 languages globally.
She highlighted the mission of FCBH to make the Bible accessible to oral learners worldwide by 2033.
The Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Prof Ugochukwu Onuchuku, presided over the lecture, which was attended by university members and invited guests.
Prof Adesanya’s extensive experience includes various administrative roles within and outside IAUE, contributing significantly to the field of Applied Linguistics.
She concluded her presentation by listing popular apps for accessing audio Bibles, such as YouVersion Bible, Bible Gateway, and Daily Audio Bible, encouraging listeners to engage with the Word of God through these platforms.
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