How language spurs development – Agu

Prof. Margaret Nonyerem Agu, a linguist, tells AWAAL GATA, how language spurs national development, her relationship with the arts and how she juggles between her professional life and the family front.

How did your relationship with language and arts start?

From my days in the secondary school, I was among my friends and colleagues counted as brilliant. I got about eight awards then.  I was also an Assistant Senior prefect. Of course, you know before you can be chosen for that, it means the institution considers you somebody they can recon with. My secondary school days were so eventful; my teachers were in love with me. My late father was also very proud of me.

As a brilliant student, why didn’t you go into the sciences?

In our days, there was no provision for counseling. Now we can counsel the younger ones on what they should do or not do. I never had the opportunity of being counseled because my parents were not that educated. I was just doing what I felt I could do. I did not go into sciences but I made credits and distinctions in sciences. I think destiny wanted me to study what I am into now, which is English Language.

At what point in life did you decide to study English Language and what spurred you?

One of the awards I got was in spoken English. I knew I had the command of English, yet it did not prompt me to study it. My father was working in Niger state, so I had the opportunity to enroll into the Niger State College of Education. We were the second set of the college. When I was to start, Dr. U. B. Ahmed who interviewed me observed that I was good in the area of language and advised that I should go into it. When we rounded up, in our set, I was the first person that proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the first to return to the college to teach. I graduated with Second Class upper in English. When I arrived, the late Etsu Nupe, Umar Sanda, insisted that I made myself available to give back to the system. That is how I found myself lecturing in the Niger State College of Education for 29 years before returning to the university for Postgraduate Studies. I came back in 2010 and late Prof. Adamu Kolo took me to IBB University, Lapai.

What aspect of arts are you into?

Language and music. I have written over 1500 songs and I have produced about five. The nature of my job does not allow me the time to do much, even though I have a studio at home.

How did you become a musician?

It is still one of the gifts given to me by God. A time came and I discovered that music is inside me. My music is mainly gospel.

 If you weren’t a linguist, who would you have been?

I am gifted in several areas. My mother was a business woman, so she imbibed that one naturally into us. If I was not a linguist, I could have done business and survive. The passion for music could also take me to any place in the world.

You have been teaching for more than 30 years; how do you feel having your students thriving out there?

 I feel very proud. I have many of them. A former Provost of Niger state College of Education, Prof. Haruna Rashid, was once my student. He is now the Provost of Federal College of Education, Kontagora. There are many others. Some of them stop me on the road sometimes. There are families where I taught the father, mother and children.

As a linguist, which is exactly your area of expertise?

My main area of interest is pragmatists, which is the area I did a PhD. I at times do discourse analysis and stylistics. Presently, I am doing a research in Environmental Studies.

Does linguistics has anything to do with environment?

Yes, a lot. There is no aspect of humanity that is not related to the environment. As linguists, we look at how people use language to portray what is happening in the society. Sometimes there are environmental degradations or defects of nature. That is the focus of a national research I am part of.

How does language spur development?

 Everything we do, positive or negative, is driven by language. There is nothing that you can talk about outside language. Whether you are talking about sciences or the Humanities, you need language to drive home whatsoever you want to say. So language is at the centre of human nature and life. Imagine a world without language; how are people going to communicate? Language is power; it can cause or stop a war. That is why people should not talk anyhow. People should guard there utterances.

Do you think the Nigerian government is doing well in enhancing the studies of languages? What should it do to boost it?

Lack of implementation of is impeding on Nigeria’s national policy on language. I will want us to develop our languages, our native languages are suffering. 

How were you coping juggling between your professional life and the home front?

I never too my child to any nanny. What we were doing was that whenever I was not at home, my husband would be. He was also working, yet we were coping. He is super-supportive and down to earth.

Who are your role models?

I love Dora Akunyili very much, because I saw her as a woman that was straightforward. I believe in things that are straightforward. When people exhibit double standards, I frown at it. I have so many role models, especially among women who have really worked themselves up.

Especially in the north, gender seems to impede on the development of the child, the girl-child in particular; how do you think this should be resolved?

Wherever a male child can get to, a female should as well. There should be no obstacle. In fact, if you train a woman, you are training a nation. It is a fact because females easily impart. They have more time and temperament.

What legacy do you want to bequeath on your children?

One thing that is also a driving force as far as success is concerned is diligence. Whether my biological children or my foster children, I want them to work hard in whatever field they have chosen for themselves. They should get focused. If you are focused, you will get there no matter the obstacle.

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