AN Assignment
for Dr. Ikechukwu Abiaya
Name has been defined as a noun word by which a person,
place or thing is known as identity and that which distinguishes from others.
In our traditional African setting names play very important roles. Names take
various forms but it must stick as what the bearer or giver intends it is.
Parents give names for varied reasons. These range from
cultural background and affinity, circumstances of birth. So there are names
like Godswill, ThankGod Blessing, Ihuoma Chioma and then ownership as Nkem. That is perhaps
the reason we had Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Ports Authority etc. Therefore
if the founding Fathers said it is Nigeria this or that, it must retain that
pronunciation and meaning. There is a
whole lot of difference if someone thus calls out Nigerian Airways. Today the law has granted an individual the
right to run an Air Nigeria which
has that broad meaning as that owned by Nigeria as a country and its people. In this
case not ours but his. There is the
Ethiopian Airlines or ‘Ethiopian’ for short, the world should take it in same
light as Nigeria Airways. Similarly, there are name such as the South African
Airways, Qatar Airways that doubles as Etihad Airlines all carry the identity
of Qatar as a country. These days however, the same country has gone further to
assume a corporate identity known as Qatar Foundation. This is very visible in
sports sponsorship and it is respected for it. Pan African University we are
told was changed to Pan Atlantic University because a larger body thought it is
the copyright owner of any name African.
Names also come by Abbreviation. National Population
Commission or NPC is the reason the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria is not
Nigeria Paralympic going by worldwide standard
However, mispronunciation can give a name different meaning.
African Cup of Nations has been called Africa Cup of Nations and All Africa
Games some to some has become All African Games.
A name therefore ought to be what the owner intends it is. Any
deviation therefore cannot hold.
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