Voices unheard: The struggle of indigenous language journalism on Nigeria’s media landscape

Journalism can be deemed successful when the receiver of the message understands what is being circulated. This is especially possible when the message being disseminated to the receiver is in a language familiar to them. This study examines the factors responsible for the lack of development of indigenous language journalism in Nigeria. The study specifically sought to investigate the social, linguistic, and economic factors that inhibit the growth of indigenous language journalism in Nigeria, studied the consequences of media policies and regulations on indigenous language journalism, and assessed the dearth in education and its influence on the non-development of indigenous language journalism. The study was anchored on the cultural imperialism theory and adopted the exploratory research design. Interviews and document analysis were the data collection methods. Non-probabilistic, purposive sampling was employed for the research. Twenty-four interviews were conducted to collect data from journalists and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and selected Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMO) of the State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency. Systematic content analysis (SCA) was used to analyse interview transcripts. Additional themes were proposed based on insights emerging from the data, expanding, separating or combining existing themes as needed. The study found that the dominance of English as the official language and the nonviability of indigenous language journalism from sociolinguistic and economic factors are challenges for indigenous language journalism in Nigeria. Findings also show that journalists’ lack of language competence in indigenous languages, the predominance of the English language over indigenous languages in journalism practice, and the lack of a framework for education were the bases of contention related to the underdevelopment of indigenous language journalism. The study concluded that the shift of the language towards English, driven by its perceived prestige and domination in numerous areas, offers a substantial barrier to the expansion of indigenous language journalism in Nigeria. It recommends the creation and execution of policies that recognise the value of indigenous languages and promote their preservation and development, especially in journalism.