CEOAFRICA MD Urges Stronger Support for ACALAN as 20th Anniversary Looms

By Love Oyedokun

Accra, Ghana – As the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, Prince Cletus Iloabanafor, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CEOAFRICA, is making a passionate plea for increased support from policymakers, corporate organizations, private sector actors, and civil society groups. Iloabanafor’s call to action came during the 2026 Africa Languages Week (ALW), held at the University of Ghana, Legon, from February 23rd to 24th in Accra.

Cablenews24 reports that Iloabanafor, a member of the African Languages Week Coordinating Committee (ALWCC) and Chairman of Resource Mobilisation, emphasized that the ongoing stakeholder deliberations are crucial for laying the groundwork for the official anniversary celebrations, slated to commence in the third quarter of 2026. He argued that sustained investment in African languages is not merely a matter of cultural preservation but a key to unlocking inclusive development across the continent.

The 2026 Africa Languages Week, themed “Sustainable Waters, Shared Voices: African Languages as the Conduit for Water and Safe Sanitation for the Africa We Want,” served as a platform to highlight the critical role of indigenous languages in addressing pressing developmental challenges. Addressing participants, Prince Iloabanafor challenged corporate organizations and policymakers to recognize and harness the vast economic and social potential of Africa’s over 600 million indigenous language speakers.

He pointed out that engaging this often-overlooked demographic could revolutionize business outcomes by extending reach to nearly 60 percent of Africans who remain excluded due to the dominance of colonial languages. This linguistic barrier, he argued, represents a significant untapped market and a missed opportunity for businesses seeking to expand their reach and impact.

The two-day event also marked the official unveiling of ACALAN’s new logo, symbolizing a renewed commitment to its mission. A series of high-level strategic sessions, chaired by Prof. Dr. Vicensia Shule, Acting Executive Secretary of ACALAN, further underscored the importance of translating linguistic research into tangible results. Prof. Dr. Shule urged stakeholders to design high-impact initiatives that build upon two decades of linguistic research. These initiatives include a proposed recognition ceremony to honor lifetime contributors to indigenous language development, celebrating those who have dedicated their lives to preserving and promoting Africa’s linguistic heritage.

Speaking to CEOAFRICA, Prof. Dr. Shule emphasized the critical role of intergenerational language transmission in safeguarding Africa’s cultural identity. She called on parents and educational institutions to prioritize the teaching and learning of indigenous languages, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their cultural roots. She further reaffirmed ACALAN’s commitment to moving beyond policy formulation to practical implementation across African Union member states, aligning the 20th anniversary with the International Action Plan for Indigenous Languages to enhance quality of life, governance, and linguistic rights.

Strategic coordination for the week was led by the ALWCC, chaired by Ms. Margaret Nankinga. The committee, which included Prince Iloabanafor, Mr. John Rusimbi, Dr. Babusa Omar Hamisi, Mr. Anicet Allamadjingaye, and Ms. Francina Nutifafa Feyi, played a crucial role in shaping the discussions and outcomes of the event.

During the working sessions, Ms. Nankinga presented a proposal on language advocacy, outlining strategies to raise awareness about the importance of African languages and promote their use in various sectors. Prince Iloabanafor, in turn, outlined strategies to improve the visibility and valorization of African languages across all spheres of life, from education and media to business and governance.

Technical presentations featured Mr. Rusimbi’s work on artificial intelligence tools for African languages, exploring how technology can be leveraged to support language preservation and development. Dr. Hamisi’s proposal to deploy animation and cartoons for early childhood language learning highlighted the potential of engaging and accessible media to foster language acquisition from a young age.

Former Senior Programme Officer, Dr. Babajide Ojo Johnson, also stressed the importance of delivering media literacy and entrepreneurship education in indigenous languages to advance the African Union Agenda 2063. He argued that empowering communities with the skills and knowledge to navigate the digital landscape and participate in economic activities in their own languages is essential for achieving sustainable development goals.

The sessions concluded with discussions on the instrumentalisation of African languages, including the development of standardized vocabularies for key sectors such as health, water, and public administration. Participants emphasized the need for adaptive governance frameworks to ensure African languages remain relevant in an era of rapid digital transformation, adapting to the evolving needs of society while preserving their cultural significance.

As the event drew to a close, Prince Iloabanafor renewed his call for partnerships and unwavering support for ACALAN, emphasizing that the year-long 20th anniversary programme—scheduled to run from September 2026 to 2027—represents a renewed commitment to repositioning African languages as central pillars of social cohesion and sustainable development.

According to him, reclaiming Africa’s linguistic heritage is not just a matter of preserving the past but a crucial step towards shaping a future in which the continent fully realizes its potential on the global stage. By investing in African languages, stakeholders can unlock new opportunities for economic growth, social inclusion, and cultural enrichment, paving the way for a more prosperous and equitable future for all Africans.

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