In October 2026, Dr. Mabel Imooje, a linguist affiliated with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Kano, declared her resolve to safeguard the endangered Esan language by touring Nigerian communities, meeting traditional rulers and urging speakers to keep the tongue alive.
Key facts:
- She earned a doctorate in linguistics from Bayero University, Kano.
- Imooje is an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Translators and Interpreters (NITI).
- She travels nationwide, speaking to Esan‑speaking groups and documenting their experiences.
- Funding is scarce; she has yet to secure sponsorship for her outreach.
- A recent meeting with the King of Ekpoma resulted in a pledge to promote Esan in every household.
"My inspiration comes from my passion for Esan language. The language is so very hard‑wired in my brain that no one needs to ask where I come from whenever I speak," Imooje told the reporter.
#### What drives her commitment?
Imooje explained that her identity is inseparable from the language. She said her accent instantly signals her Esan heritage, and she believes that this personal connection can improve language instruction, develop teaching materials and generate learning resources for the community.
#### Has she recorded her work in a book?
She confirmed that a manuscript is in the pipeline but has not yet been published.
#### Which academic path prepared her for this mission?
She began with an NCE in English/Social Studies, later obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English, and finally pursued a PhD in linguistics to deepen her understanding of indigenous languages, especially Esan.
#### Why focus on a local language rather than foreign ones?
Imooje argued that promoting indigenous tongues alongside foreign languages prevents cultural erosion. "Going local is to encourage indigenous languages to pop up amongst the foreign languages that you just mentioned," she said, emphasizing that neglecting native languages leads to their extinction.
#### What challenges does she face?
The campaign is costly; traveling between states to sensitize speakers strains her limited budget. She also struggles to secure sponsors and to gain access to traditional rulers, who sometimes delay meetings. Despite these obstacles, she receives moral support and praise from community members.
#### What successes has she recorded?
She highlighted a video of her discussion with the King of Ekpoma, where she urged the monarch to champion daily use of Esan. The king responded by instructing his chiefs to spread the message to every home. Imooje views this as a triumph and a model for future advocacy across other endangered Nigerian languages.
#### Does she discourage learning foreign languages?
She clarified that proficiency in English or other foreign languages remains valuable for socioeconomic mobility and national integration. However, she warned that over‑emphasis on foreign languages can marginalise indigenous ones, making them irrelevant.
Imooje’s broader vision is to expand the "Speak the language, save the language" project beyond Esan, eventually supporting all Nigerian languages at risk of disappearing.
Source: Vanguard News