The Qatari researchers are currently in Nigeria to brainstorm with their Nigerian counterparts on advanced forms of promoting indigenous languages for a better understanding of their citizens.
At a media briefing in Lagos to shed more light on their mission in Nigeria, the Head of the Delegation and Media Committee from the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, Qatar, Dr. Hannan Alfayyad, said the group is partnering the Nigerian Centre for Arabic Research to intensify efforts to further promote the translation of Arabic into indigenous languages in Nigeria.
Dr. Hannan Alfayyad who is the former Head of the Department, Qatar University, said the initiative would award scholars to those who have translated various publications from Arabic to Yoruba and vice versa, with a sum of two million US Dollars.
According to her, the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, Qatar is targeting at enhancing international cultural exchange between Nigeria and Qatar as well as promoting peace and international relations.
She said the participants are expected to present their published books and must have achieved a feat in the field of translation.
Dr. Hannan Alfayyad explained that the entries could be made by an individual as well as a group of people who pulled resources together to make the publication or a corporate entity insisting that the publication should be in the area of humanity, sciences and the work should be in the prints.
She said the objectives of the initiative are to spread peace all over the world and promote international understanding.
Another member of the delegation, Ustaz Muhammad Bashir, said the Sheikh Hamad Award was aimed at encouraging translation and honour the translators for their efforts in building bridges between different cultures and respecting the work that they published.
A Director with Voice of Nigeria, Dr Qasim Akinreti said the collaboration showed that the cultural aspect of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Qatar recently is manifesting through the programme.
He said: “This is an extension of foreign relations between Nigeria and Qatar. So eventually we’ll see scholars from Nigeria, visiting Qatar University for further studies mainly focusing on indigenous language studies,”
Dr. Akinreti said the initiative would promote global understanding because language is extremely powerful globally as a medium of communication.
“Arabic is one of the foremost international languages. Yoruba is also recognized by UNESCO. In fact, all indigenous languages are recognized, but the Qatar Foundation has chosen Hausa and Yoruba for better understanding and cooperation. Scholars have been drawn from Nigerian universities, Arabic/Islamic centers in Nigeria as well as the University of Qatar to see how they can exchange ideas of cultural promotion and, more importantly, the Yoruba language. So, the works will be assessed and the best of them will be given prizes,” he said.
He said the Qatar Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Voice of Nigeria in language broadcast.
“This is one area the media benefits. What we intend to do is to see how well the media can delve into the cultural understanding between Qatar and Nigeria. So, we are hoping that the Nigerian media will benefit from this cooperation,” he said.
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