A Nigerian historian at the National Archive, Arewa House Kaduna, Malam Rabiu Isa, says the Northern part of the country can only be developed if Hausa language would be adopted as the official language in the region.
According to him, the language has been commonly spoken across all tribes in the region and serves as a medium of communication in almost all walks of life qualifying it for consideration as the region’s mother tongue.
The historian made the statement on Wednesday as a guest speaker at the International Hausa Day, organised by a group, ‘Manufarmu Al’ummarmu,’ in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.
He said, “It is a language that has gender in its wordings, it is among the simplest languages in the entire languages of the world. The language has today spread across many climes of the world, mostly in West African Countries.”
He added, “More than 70 million people speak Hausa across the world. Today, the spiritual books like the Bible and Qur’an and other important scriptures and books are best translated in the Hausa language than any other language in entire Nigeria.”
According to him, some of the linguistic features of Hausa language are its three basic classes of speech, adding that the language has become almost a common language that is spoken across divergent non-Hausa tribes in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Malam Isa further said the simplicity of Hausa language made it easier for the colonialists to operate effectively in the north and the Christian missionaries to spread the gospel of Christianity in the North.
He, however, said despite these qualities, the language faces serious challenges, set back, one of which was the intuition of foreign languages into it.
Chairman of the Manufarmu Al’ummar Mu, Hon. Abdilmajid Lawal said they deemed it necessary to also join the world in commemorating the Hausa day.
“The Hausa language has indeed played significant roles toward promotion of peace and other socio-economic developments in the country,” he said.
