By Chris Uchenna Agbedo
Today, the 21st day of February 2022, the United Nations through
its organ, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) marks the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) originally
proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999, a special day
which the UN General Assembly ratified in its Resolution of 2002.
Following
that landmark proclamation, the United Nations General Assembly, had in its
resolution A/RES/61/266 of 16 May 2007, enjoined Member States “to promote the
preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. The
UN General Assembly, by the same resolution proclaimed the following year, 2008
as the International Year of Languages, to “promote unity in diversity and
international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism,”
thus designating UNESCO as the lead agency for the Year.
