Languages in Nigeria

There are approximately 521 languages in Nigeria – 510 are existing, 2 without native speakers, and 9 extinct. English is the official language of the country. It is widely used in education, business, and other official purposes. The main languages spoken in the country include Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo, Ibibio, Eifk, and Annang language, Adamawa Fulfulde, French, and Cetral Kanuri, The diversity of language in Nigeria is a model of Africa as a whole that encompass 3 major African languages families – the Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and the Niger-Congo A.

English is only spoken by small minority mostly in the urban areas. Since an estimated 75% of the population lives in the rural areas, the dominant languages for communication are still the tribal or ethnic languages such as Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. Hausa is the most recognized Chadic language in Nigeria and is spoken by almost 24 million people in West Africa and is the second language of 15 million more others. It is typically spoken by the Muslims and is associated with the Islamic culture in the country. Standard Yoruba developed through the efforts of the first African bishop of the Anglican Church, Samuel Crowther.