Minister of Interior Endorses Multilingual Keyboard Innovation

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has lauded the groundbreaking Nigerian Multilingual Keyboard as a transformative step toward preserving Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

A Tool to Preserve Identity and Culture

Speaking at the unveiling of the innovative technology at the Ministry of Interior, Abuja, Dr. Tunji-Ojo, according to a statement issued by Ozoya Imohimi, Director, Press and Public Relations, emphasized its potential to safeguard the integrity of Nigerian names, languages, and identity on a global stage.

During his remarks, the Minister highlighted the significance of preserving names as a core part of individual and collective identity, drawing comparisons to countries like Norway and Israel that ensure accurate representation of their cultural nuances in written communication. “Your name is your identity,” he said. “If your name is badly spelt, your identity has been badly diminished.”

Empowering Future Generations Through Technology

The Honourable Minister expressed his optimism about the keyboard’s impact, stating, “This innovation will not only preserve our names and identities but will also empower future generations to embrace their heritage. By integrating our languages into modern technology, we are safeguarding our history and fostering national pride.”

The Minister assured the developers of his support, encouraging collaboration with them . “Nigeria needs this,” he said, adding, “We must raise a generation that can pronounce and write their names correctly, preserving the essence of who we are as a people.”

Keyboard Features and Technological Advantages

Mr. Oluwole described the Nigerian Multilingual Keyboard as a groundbreaking invention that effectively addresses the limitations of English-only keyboards in a linguistically diverse nation like Nigeria, which boasts over 500 languages. He emphasized that this innovation enables users to type seamlessly in any Nigerian language, preserving the cultural and linguistic authenticity of names and words.

Mr. Oluwole described the Nigerian Multilingual Keyboard as an indispensable tool for communication, supporting 42 alphabets, 16 diacritic characters, and 14 tonal marks within a standard 104-key layout. He highlighted its patented “Shift Square” technology, Unicode compatibility for seamless integration of characters like the Naira symbol (₦), and its user-friendly QWERTY layout that minimizes the learning curve. He also praised its cross-platform adaptability for smart devices, making it a versatile solution for multilingual communication.

A Game-Changer for Education and Communication

He further emphasized the keyboard’s potential to transform education, commerce, and communication, citing studies showing that native language education improves comprehension and innovation by up to 45%. “This innovation positions Nigeria as a leader in multilingual communication, empowering citizens to embrace their names and languages with pride,” he concluded.