Not Yet Uhuru: Linguistic Decolonization and the Marginalization of Indigenous Languages in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the persistent marginalization of indigenous Nigerian languages, framed within the discourse of "Not Yet Uhuru," in order to evaluate the barriers to linguistic decolonization in Nigeria. Despite the introduction of the 2022 National Language Policy, the Nigerian linguistic landscape remains characterized by linguistic slavery and English hegemony. Using a mixed-methods research design, the study explored four critical dimensions: the psychological impact of coloniality, the socio-class schism between the urban elite and rural grassroots, the structural barriers in the national assessment system, and the emerging threat of "Digital Coloniality" in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Findings revealed that linguistic decolonization is stalled by a structural trap where students are taught in mother tongues but evaluated in English. Furthermore, a Digital Language Audit (DLA) conducted as part of this study proved that modern AI platforms consistently marginalize Nigerian languages, offering lower accuracy and semantic depth compared to English. The study concluded that true Linguistic Uhuru requires a tripartite approach: psychological de-conditioning of the elite, the engineering of technical indigenous vocabularies, and the digital sovereignty of local tongues. Recommendations include the introduction of bilingual national examinations and "Digital Affirmative Action" to ensure Nigerian languages are coded into the future.