I've been thinking about this since I've been a kid. I've never enquired from someone why we haven't done this. And then today, it just came into my mind to ask it here today.

Well before I do, I want all of you to know that Hawaii currently have their Hawaii pidgin as one of their official languages. Source-CNN

Now, there are many countries that have more than one official language: Belarus has two, Belgium has three, Switzerland has four, Cameroon has two including Cameroonian pidgin, and the list goes on.

And I wanted to ask.... Why is the pidgin English not among our official languages?
Are we really that scared of the British that we only had to officiate the language they gave to us?
I mean about 99% of ALL Nigerians can understand and speak pidgin.

The remaining 1% consists of let's just say a few persons. Especially some girls (no offense intended) who claim they can’t speak or understand pidgin mostly because of the way our society treats it, or the school they attend(ed) or where they stay, but it’s basically the mentality with some of the 99% pretending to be part of the 1%.

You should know that Some people (including me) actually pay money to see some of our comedians crack jokes in pidgin english. yet it isn't official. Basically almost EVERYONE from the north to the south understands it perfectly and yet we chose to channel all our energy on the British english. A language that many of us can’t really speak or even write properly.

Look, even the British who are the true owners of english try to keep up with the language’s growth and daily change.

I've seen so many British footballers speak English. They end up speaking it poorly.

BTW, I heard Vardy from Leicester once saying that ndidi and iheanacho used to speak pidgin in their camp and that him and some other brits would be amazed by it that they even had to ask them to teach them how to speak it.

Many countries are proud of the languages they all understand as one. Over here, the case is very different. I remember how our teachers in school back then would almost punish us sef for speaking it.

Anyway, To cut this long Epistle short, someone should answer my question. Elaborate on the reasons why our leaders decided that pigin shouldnt be official with English being our only official language.

Tai solarin proposed this. Late prof ola rotimi was compilling encyclopaedia of nigeria pidgin English before he died.
It may contribute to unity. Each unifying factor like common language. Pidgin English can serve that purpose if it is made compulsory for all and sundry.

Why not adopt your local languages first as official language of communication like most SW states do.
Pidgin is not much different from Creole so it's not authentic.

Lalasticlala, Pls move this to Frontpage for more audience

3 Major events are going on in Nigeria:
1. Terrorist groups are attacking communities, seeking to conquer them for Islam.

2. Fulani militia are attacking communities, seeking to conquer them for the Fulani.

Both seem to have the support of the FG.

3. The FG is trying to forcefully take lands from different states and turn Fulani to natives of the states, to eventually conquer the states.

As much as they may try, all these agenda have failed in Jesus' name.

Its not pratical because what u call a language is filtered English still

Btw oyibo dey mad o
Americans call it vernacular
While the brits call it pidgin

Just because they hate to agree

OP na pidgin you suppose use write this thing na..

Utter rubbish.

How many EU nations do you see making English or pidgin its national language?

How many Asian countries? Japan? China? Korea?

How many South American countries

We're saying the English is looking like a mistake and you're looking to add pidgin. E no go better for Lugard

Ndi one nigeria. Mtchewww!

low sef esteem

wearsandtrends1:
Its not pratical because what u call a language is filtered English still

Btw oyibo dey mad o
Americans call it vernacular
While the brits call it pidgin

Just because they hate to agree

But the Hawaii pidgin is also filtered English, no?

And I love the way BBC adopted the use of pidgin. Na good thing

butterfly777:
3 Major events are going on in Nigeria:
1. Terrorist groups are attacking communities, seeking to conquer them for Islam.

2. Fulani militia are attacking communities, seeking to conquer them for the Fulani.

Both seem to have the support of the FG.

3. The FG is trying to forcefully take lands from different states and turn Fulani to natives of the states, to eventually conquer the states.

As much as they may try, all these agenda have failed in Jesus' name.

So your plan to make all these things not to happen is "In Jesus Name"
Na your type Fulani Herdsmen/Bandits are praying to meet. The naive black man that is suffering from religious slavery
Pathetic

As for the OP, you Nigerians can cement your slavery to the British by permanently eradicating your language for Pidgin as the vernacular and Standard English as the official. Bunch of inferior humans.
As for us, Igbo is will be our Official and non Official language.

It's not going to bring any unity, they will still rob people of their future

...All pidgin teachers in our schools will come from warri and benin.

BKayy:

So your plan to make all these things not to happen is "In Jesus Name"
Na your type Fulani Herdsmen/Bandits are praying to meet. The naive black man that is suffering from religious slavery
Pathetic

And without knowing me, and without asking, you think prayer is the only thing I am doing about the situation? Smh

Nigerians and assumptive generalizations.

..

Pigin is a dialect in English.
Other dialect include
American English
Australia English
British English
Hong Kong English


In Igboland, we have several Igbo dialect such as
Onitsha Igbo dialect
Nsukka Igbo dialect
Asaba Igbo dialect
Agbor Igbo dialect
Ikwerre Igbo dialect
Abakkiliki Igbo dialect
Port Harcourt Igbo Dialect
Bonny Igbo dialect

So if you're to speak to someone from a dialect which is different from yours in Igbo you have to use the central dialect which all Igbo speaking individuals understand.

So there's no way you will speak pigin and someone who speak English won't understand, It doesn't need interpretation. I was expecting that major languages like Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba should be our official languages not Pigin.

BKayy:
As for the OP, you Nigerians can cement your slavery to the British by permanently eradicating your language for Pidgin as the vernacular and Standard English as the official. Bunch of inferior humans.
As for us, Igbo is will be our Official and non Official language.

Very nonsense talk from that fellow

Bcs, Nigeria is yet to be truely independent !!!