The critical role of language in an age dominated by technology, security concerns, and socio-economic development was the central focus of the 3rd Linguistics International Interdisciplinary Hybrid Conference (EBSULINGS 2025), held at Ebonyi State University (EBSU) on October 8, 2025.
Under the theme, “Language, Technoscience, Security, and Socio-economic Development: Towards a Holistic Digital Society,”
The conference brought together academics, government officials, and stakeholders to explore the dynamic intersection of these four pillars.
The event was chaired by Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, the Hon. Commissioner for Works and Transport in Ebonyi State, stressed the vital importance of preserving indigenous languages, particularly Igbo.
Lebechi commended EBSU’s move to include language in the school curriculum but strongly advocated for a broader effort, urging parents to take ownership of teaching their children their mother tongue (L tongue).
“The English we speak here is a borrowed language,” Engr. Lebechi stated.
“You can see that most of our children now barely speak their language… your L tongue should not be forgotten because that’s who you are and where you come from.”
He also expressed surprise at the low student turnout, encouraging the faculty to boost participation to instill pride in their native language.
Dr Chibo Goodluck Nwode, Head of the Department of Language and Linguistics at EBSU, echoed this sentiment, arguing that language is the fundamental key to all societal structures, including technology, socio-economics, and policy.
“Language is a mirror where one can see,” Dr Nwode said, pushing back against the notion that only fields like law or medicine hold value.
He proudly noted the global recognition of the Igbo language, citing examples of individuals receiving awards and opportunities abroad, including an Igbo transcriber at Oxford University.
Dr Nwode painted the decline of local dialect as a threat of extinction to the language itself, imploring parents to make their language the primary mode of communication at home to safeguard cultural identity and knowledge.
Dr Jeremiah Anene Nwankwegu, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, described the gathering as “more than academic ritual,” calling it a conversation “at the crossroads of language, technoscience, security, and socio-economic development.”
He affirmed that language is not a passive ornament but an active agent in shaping a digital, holistic future.
Similarly, Prof. Nkechi Emma Echiegu, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, highlighted the four conference pillars as crucial in shaping the modern world, underscoring that development is nurtured through dialogue and collaboration.
The conference also included an award ceremony recognising individuals for their humanitarian work.
The organisers seized the opportunity to appeal to the awardees and alumni for philanthropic support.
Dr Nwankwegu urged them to remember the Igbo language and the department, calling the language a “soul, a heritage, a repository of wisdom.”
Dr Nwode highlighted pressing departmental needs for sustained growth, including the introduction of cutting-edge areas like computational linguistics and natural language processing, which require equipment and staffing, improved internet facilities, and a modernised multimedia laboratory.
The department has already taken a significant step by introducing the study of Igbo language University-wide to preserve the “heartbeat of our cultural identity.”
The conference concluded with the shared hope that the deliberations would translate into actionable policies, collaborative research, and practical interventions to ensure that language remains at the forefront of the quest for an equitable, sustainable, and connected digital society.