Arabic Language Day: Experts advocate greater online content in Arabic

The Nigeria Arabic Language Village (NALV) has organised the 2024 Arabic Language Day Celebration in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The event attracted a diverse group of academics, policymakers and language enthusiasts.

The gathering was chaired by Prof. Muhammad Umaru Ndagi of the University of Abuja, while Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, served as the chief host, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Bukar Tijjani.

The theme for this year’s event was ‘Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence’.

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In his opening remarks, Prof. Ndagi stressed the need to increase Arabic-language content on the internet.

He noted that Arabic currently accounts for less than 3 per cent of all online resources, limiting access to critical information for millions of Arabic-speaking users worldwide.

“Arabic remains one of the richest languages in the world, spoken by over 400 million people across 25 countries.

“Yet, Arabic content on the internet is woefully inadequate. This situation excludes billions of Arabic-speaking individuals from accessing a wealth of knowledge in their native language.”

The professor further stressed the historical importance of Arabic in the development of scientific thought.

He recalled the golden age of Arabic science and technology during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century, particularly under the leadership of Caliph al-Mamun, son of Harun al-Rashid.

“At that time, Arabic was the global language of knowledge and innovation.”

However, Ndagi pointed out that the Mongol invasions of Muslim Spain in 1258 had a devastating impact on the Arab world’s scientific progress.

“The Arab world had no reason to fall behind Europe in modern science and technology, except for the calamity caused by the Mongol invasions.

“At its peak, Arabic was the language of discovery and technological advancement. We must reclaim that heritage,” he noted.

In a symbolic gesture of support for Arabic, Prof. Ndagi urged Governor Zulum, to begin his speech in Arabic, even if only for a few words. The SSG responded positively, delivering part of his address in Arabic, much to the approval of the audience.

The gathering also called for greater efforts to ensure that Arabic maintains its prominent place in global digital spaces, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to shape the future of communication and knowledge sharing.

Meanwhile, the participants expressed hope that the discussions would lead to concrete initiatives to boost Arabic-language content in AI and online platforms.

Governor Zulum, through his representative, assured the attendees that the Borno State government is committed to promoting Arabic language education and cultural heritage.

The event underscored the continued relevance of Arabic in both the academic and technological spheres.