GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT Language is a tool of communication, an art fully used and understood only by human beings, while communication is the process of transferring messages from one person to another. Any human language is understood and used better when the users are literate. Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, communicate, understand, interpret and create, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. This work looks at the importance of indigenous languages in fostering literacy education, which will in turn help in sustaining national development. After an indept discussion on indigenous languages and literacy education, the author looked at the ways by which the two could aid in sustaining national development. Obstacles to the advancement of indigenous languages in the Nigerian educational system were also examined. The work concluded with recommendations for improvement on the implementation of education policy on indigenous languages and literacy education for a sustainable national development. KEYWORDS: Indigenous Language, Literacy Education and National Development