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ABSTRACT
This study looked into the language policy in Nigeria with a specific focus on Igbo dialects. The research concerned itself with determining whether standard Igbo is used as the meduim of instruction in primary schools in Nigeria, accessing the extent to which Igbo dialects are used in teaching in primary schools in Nigeria, and lastly, examining the fate of Igbo dialects in the contexts of primary education in Nigeria. Igbo, one of the three major languages in Nigeria faces challenges in the documentation and spread of its dialects especially in schools due to the teaching of the standard Igbo only leaving the dialects at risk as not much attention is paid to the dialects in the area of teaching. Also, there is a general challenge on the social perception of Igbo dialects, as people including some of the Igbo speakers believe that speaking the dialects is a sign of backwardness or lack of education. This research seeks to address this issue as the status of dialects in Nigerian languages especially in Igbo is gradually becoming endangered and might possibly lead to death of the dialects if not properly looked into. The research suggests that emphasis should be laid on Igbo dialects by allowing the dialects to be taught in schools, media houses, used for formal settings such as government agencies, and possibly used as a medium of instruction in areas where the various dialects are used in place of the standard Igbo. The researcher recommends further studies in the language policy of Nigeria especially the Igbo dialects, and any aspect not talked about in this research should be addressed by scholars, linguists, or anyone who has interest in the status and language policy of the Igbo dialects.
