By Adako Aselema

Permanent Secretary Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, Barrister James Agbo has challenged Alago elites to give their children and wards Alago names for cultural identity.

Bar. Agbo while lamenting the behavior of parents who give their children foreign names, stressed that such attitude was capable of wiping "our cultural identity".

The permanent secretary who was speaking at the launching of the Alago Alphabetical chart in Keana, recently, called on parents to teach their children Alago language and adopt tribal names.

Bar. Agbo said, " I cherish the Igbos and Yorubas who give their children tribal names in respective of where they settled.

He called on the Alago elites to document Alago literature for the younger generations and advised them to develop the language of Ikwe and Uwagu.

In his paper, Eagged, "The written language and the socio-cultural and intellectual development of the people "Mr. Mark D. Ogbole commended the efforts of the Nigeria Bible translation Trust, Jos for their assistance in making the alphabetical chart possible.

Mr. Ogbole who is also the propose for of capital school, Lafia, said that the alphabetical chart was away of re-enacting the historical ante-cedence of developing Alago as a nation.

He said that the alphabetical chart would set in motion the Alago literary revolution and the real beginning of an advanced development of the Alago languages.

In his words, "The launching of the Alago alphabetical chart is necessary ingredients to facilitate the easy writing and reading of the language, is both timely and historic.

"As we engage in this literary and intellectual revolution we as a people, may need to under take a comparative analysis of our own language with the languages that share affinity with it".

He then appealed to Alago traditional rulers not to suppress or destroy the rich tradition they have inherited from their ancestors in favour of any imported tradition.

He advised them to be proud that they are ruling according to the tradition of their ancestors.

He urged youths and the entire people to be committed to studying Alago language.

Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, a member of Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed ogoshi Onawo called on the people to support the project.

Alhaji Onawo commended the efforts of Nigeria Bible Translation Trust (NBTT) and the author of the alphabetical chart, describing it as a welcome development.

He pointed out that the work would facilitate the development of Alago tribe as a nation.

He challenged Alago people to teach their children the language and always communicate with Alago people in the dialect.

The organizing chairman of the alphabetical chart, Mr. D. Adi Sabo said it was the love to develop Alago language that prompted their decision to go into publishing the chart.

He said that the alphabetical chart would help to develop the Alago language and appealed to the elites among the Alago to support them financially.