Nigeria

Nigeria is a nation of people from different ethnic groups and kingdoms, whose mother tongues vary greatly. Indigenous persons with ‘linguistic talents’ played roles as language mediators in interethnic and transnational communication in pre-colonial times. Language mediation was also necessary for successful communication in the colonial period. First, interpreting was prioritised, then translation, a trend which continued into the post-independent era in Nigeria. Today, Nigeria’s significant position, as the most populous African nation with one of the largest economies, puts the country into the global limelight. Effective communication with other countries requires the use of translation and interpreting services. These language services are therefore essential.

Recent studies have also established the market demand for translation and interpreting services, providing details of the needs in the industry and the two academic fields. Although further studies are required, current results show developmental gaps in these areas. Accreditation and standardisation issues are pertinent, as are the quality of services currently rendered, and the availability of quality education in academia. In this paper, we trace the history of translation and interpreting in Nigeria, touching on aspects such as religious and literary translation, standards and practices, as well as translator and interpreter studies.