This study compares the roles of official and indigenous languages in Nigeria for proper dissemination of information on climate change. Questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 130 questionnaires were distributed to civil servants in Ibaji Local Government Council of Kogi State, Nigeria to seek their opinions on the proper information flow on climate change in the country through official or indigenous languages. Out of 130 questionnaires distributed, 125 of them were completed and returned. A quantitative analysis was adopted to compare the roles of official and indigenous languages in Nigeria for proper dissemination of information on climate change based on the returned questionnaires from our respondents. The result show that although both official and indigenous languages in Nigeria play significant roles in proper dissemination of information on climate change, people prefer information disseminated to them in their native language(s) to the one giving to them in the official language (English). It is also discovered that most people at the grassroots, especially the illiterates, are yet to be properly informed about the implications and management of climate change and this is due to lack of proper awareness through their indigenous language(s). Dissemination of information on human and environmental challenges such as climate change should, therefore, be done in the indigenous language(s) of the people.
Keywords: Climate Change, Information, Language, Nigeria
