Following the submission of the final Revised Ejagham Language Orthography (RELO) report, we remained confident in the quality and rigor of the proposal prepared by the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages at the University of Calabar. Our confidence extended to a strong belief that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) would respond favorably.

In anticipation of this, the EjT Leadership Team proactively began developing a strategic implementation plan for integrating Ejagham into the school curriculum across Ejagham-speaking communities.

While we were prepared for the extended timelines that often accompany bureaucratic processes, we were pleasantly surprised by NERDC’s response, received on June 23, 2025. In their communication, NERDC indicated that while their review of the submitted proposed RELO was still underway, we could proceed with initiating the Ejagham Language Curriculum development process. Whether this constitutes full approval remains open to interpretation, but it certainly signals a green light in practice.

This official communication marks a significant milestone in the Ejagham Language Codification initiative. We are proud to celebrate this critical milestone for the RELO initiative with you. As previously emphasized, it affirms the scholarly depth and diligence of the University of Calabar’s Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages. Accordingly, our focus has now shifted from advocacy to full-scale planning and implementation of RELO. NERDC’s response has only strengthened our resolve.

The primary objective behind the development of the RELO initiative is to facilitate the inclusion of the Ejagham language in school curricula. That moment has arrived. Throughout the development process, the leadership of all seven clusters within the Ejagham nation played an instrumental role and demonstrated unwavering support. As we look to the future, we anticipate continued collaboration, not only from the cluster leaders, but also from the broader Ejagham community and allies who share our vision.

In the days and months ahead, we will be reaching out to galvanize support, mobilize resources, and collaborate with educators, community leaders, and our various stakeholders to bring Ejagham into classrooms, ensuring the language’s vitality for generations to come.

To everyone who has supported this initiative in any form, we extend our sincere gratitude. This milestone was made possible by your dedication. That said, the journey to institutionalising our mother tongue is far from over. We will continue to rely on your partnership as we take the next steps together. We need your support, financially and otherwise.