THE SYNERGY OF INDIGENOUS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES

IMPERATIVE IN REBRANDING NIGERIA’S BATTERED IMAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF TERRORISM FOR NATION BUILDING

Abstract

The rebranding Nigeria project was launched in Abuja in March 2009 by the former minister of communication Late Prof. Dora Akunyili with the emotional Slogan “Nigeria, good people, Great people”. The Nigerian government embarked on this project because of the battered image of Nigeria before the international committees. This was considered necessary because a nation’s development is tied to its image. Today without doubts, most Nigerians yearn for a Nigeria that would transform dramatically from the present undignified level of insurgency, insecurity, mass man-slaughter, poverty, diseases, rape, kidnapping and under development to a Nigeria that would be heaven of peace, progress, unity and good living. The paper examined the concept of rebranding, the roles of indigenous language with those of the English language in re-building Nigeria and achieving national unity. This will in turn usher peace, security of lives and property, and unity that would eventually rebrand the battered image of Nigeria to an investor friendly nation.