Brig. Gen. Faransa Partners Izesan Limited to Preserve Wurkun and Jiba Languages

In a significant move to protect Nigeria’s endangered indigenous languages, retired Brigadier General Jeremiah Faransa has partnered with edtech firm Izesan Limited to support the digitisation and revitalisation of the Wurkun and Jiba languages in Taraba State.

General Jeremiah Faransa

The announcement was made on Thursday, July 11, during an official meeting between the General and the Izesan leadership team. The initiative is aligned with the broader goals of UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL), which calls for renewed global efforts to safeguard linguistic diversity and promote indigenous languages through education, technology, and governance.

Brig. Gen. Faransa (retd.), who currently serves as Chairman of the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service and also heads the State’s Special Task Force on Illegal Mining and Deforestation, said the project is timely and vital to preserving the identity of minority communities in the state.

“Our languages are more than words,they are custodians of our history, our spirituality, and our connection to the land. I am pleased to support this important initiative,” Faransa stated.

Izesan Limited, Nigeria’s foremost edtech company dedicated to the preservation and teaching of indigenous African languages, will deploy its proprietary technology to digitise Wurkun and Jiba. The company will also create curriculum-aligned learning content and user-friendly mobile and web applications for use in schools and communities.

Founder and CEO of Izesan Limited, Anthony Osekhuemen Otaigbe, described the partnership as “a breakthrough moment” in the campaign to protect Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.

“With the support of a respected statesman like General Faransa, we are optimistic that our work will make a deeper impact, ” he said.

Otaigbe and his team expressed their excitement and gratitude at the General’s commitment, describing it as a major morale boost for indigenous language advocates across the country.

Nigeria remains one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world, yet it also ranks among those with the highest number of endangered languages. The National Institute for Nigerian Languages has reported that over 400 native tongues are currently at risk of extinction, largely due to urban migration, globalization, and inadequate support for mother-tongue education.

Experts say the partnership between Izesan and the Taraba State government not only addresses cultural erosion but also contributes to broader national goals around identity preservation, educational inclusion, and digital transformation.

Izesan’s work has already reached thousands of learners across Nigeria and the African diaspora, offering young people an opportunity to reconnect with their ancestral tongues in a modern, accessible format.