Nigeria and Qatar have resolved to work together to boost the translation of Arabic literature into the Yoruba language.

This initiative between the Nigeria Centre for Arabic Research and Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding- Qatar was made known at a seminar on Arabic translation held in Ikeja, Lagos Monday.

The two organisations brought together scholars and experts in Arabic translations who review a series of publications translated into the Yoruba language.

According to the Head of Media, Sheikh Hamad, Award for Translation and International Understanding, Dr. Mrs. Hannau Alfayyad, said the aim aside from its academic value, was also meant ” to engender peaceful coexistence all over the world.”

In addition, a member of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, Mr. Mohammed Bashir said, ” The award is to encourage translators in building relationships in translation between Arabic and other languages and the different cultures.”

He said Yoruba Language was selected because it is one of the major languages in Nigeria and Africa.

In the same vein, the former chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State, and also Deputy Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, appreciated the essence of the collaboration in promoting cultural values and languages between Nigeria and Qatar.

“The essence of the research is also to draw mutual understanding, foster exchange of cultures values and promote global understanding,” he added.

He said some of the benefits of the collaboration include interactions among scholars of various universities from the two countries, and exchange of research works among others.

Dr Akinreti stated that Voice of Nigeria, VON and the Qatar based Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation Understanding will sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen Arabic language broadcasts on VON.

He regretted that the awareness of Arabic language is extremely low in South-West, Nigeria, but high in the Northern part of Nigeria, adding that Voice of Nigeria, which is the external broadcasting station in Nigeria, has chosen Arabic as one of its languages of broadcast to serve the interest of the broadcast community.

The leader of VON team to the event, and Deputy Director of Foreign and Nigeria languages, Dr. Tajudeen Adebayo briefed the gathering on the mission and vision of VON and the eight broadcast languages, news and programmes translations in the station.

The National President, Nigeria Institute of Translators and Interpreters (NITI), Dr. Aliy Abdulwahid Adebisi, identified the use of terminologies as one of the major challenges encountered by the media in translating news stories and programmes.

He advised media translators to have better understanding of some terminologies before going into the studio.

The Secretary General of the Nigeria Centre for Arabic Research, Dr. Alimi Saeed Akanbi also advised Nigeria government to support various institutional bodies who are in charge of translations on the areas of training and publishing.

Some of the delegation of Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding include Dr. Mrs. Hannan Alfayyad, Head of Delegation/ Media Committee and former Head of Department, Qatar University; Dr. Mrs Imtinan As- Samadiyy.

Member of the delegation and Lecturer Jordan University, Jordan; Ustaz Muhammad Bashir.Member of Delegation; Professor khaidr Abdul Baqi,Director and Founder Nigeria Centre for Arabic Research and Dr Saheed Alimi Secretary Nigeria Centre for Arabic Research.