THE 7th NITI CONGRESS AND WORKSHOP FINAL COMMUNIQUE
The Nigerian Institute of Translators and Interpreters (NITI) held its Biennial Conference at the University of Lagos, Akoka from 16 to 17 November 2007, where it discussed the Practice and Profession of Translation and Interpretation as necessary tools and ingredients of national development and regional integration.At the 7th NITI Congress and Workshop, the theme of which was: ‘Translation: Profession, Training and Language Studies', it was resolved as follows:
1. Considering the importance of Translation and Interpretation to nation-building it was resolved that there is the dire need to look at local training of Translators and Interpreters very seriously.
2. That the Nigerian French Language village has been mandated to conduct a survey of the various course content in all the institutions offering Translation courses as well as the staff strength to ascertain the availability and quality of manpower in the industry in Nigeria.
3. That NITI will henceforth conduct examinations to accept new members, enlarge membership and also maintain high standards.
4. It was recommended that dictionaries should be allowed for use in Translation examinations in Nigeria.
5. That professional qualifications like the University of Lagos Masters in Translation (MTL ) and others do not necessarily have to be terminal or inhibit progress to higher levels.
6. NITI notes with displeasure the attempt to phase out the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, and its merging with a Nigerian University. While stressing the importance of the inter-university centres to the development of education in Nigeria , NITI urges the Nigerian Government to reconsider regranting autonomy to NINLAN Aba and by extension all other inter-university centres in the Federation.
7. That NITI shall institute an annual award for the best student in Translation in Nigerian Universities at undergraduate level.
8. After paying tributes to departed colleagues NITI instituted the following awards in their memory for their contributions to the profession :
Awards: -the Bose Atewologun Prize for Literary Translation,
- the Haruna Jacob Prize for Excellence in Translation,
-Taiwo David Prize for Interpretation Excellence
-the Institutional Award for Translation Training Excellence
It was further resolved the next NITI Congress and Workshop shall hold in Abuja on the 3rd and 4th of July 2008 (with 2nd and 5th being arrival dates) ,coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Association of Translators and Interpreters (NATI).