After 66 years of the conception of the idea for the translation of the Holy Bible from English language into Jukun, Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), on Friday commissioned the institute which he built to ease the understanding of the Bible by the Jukun people.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Danjuma said the Jukun Bible Institute in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba would enhance the translation of the holy book into Jukun language.
Danjuma explained that the idea of the Jukun Bible institute was started in 1956 by an American lady, Margrete Dykestra, who was assisted by a Nigerian, Mallam Jeol Omiri, to translate the Bible into the Jukun language.
According to him, before leaving Nigeria for America, Dykestra approached him (Danjuma) and handed the completed New Testament of the holy book to him, and pleaded with him to continue with the translation project.
Danjuma urge the Jukuns to endeavour to use the translated version of the Bible to spread the gospel of God in the Jukun language to promote peace and unity in the land.
This is even as he advised the people to take advantage of the Jukun Bible to ensure that Jukun language did not go extinct.
“We can not continue to teach our children foreign languages. I always found myself guilty of speaking English with my children, let us imbibe the spirit of speaking our languages with the children, that is our identity.
“Translating the Bible in Jukun language does not mean we are competing with any church, we are only consolidating the efforts of Christendom to spread the gospel of God in local languages.
“My advice is to you the Jukuns Worldwide, do not let the Jukun translated Bible remain in the bookshelves, get it and use it by teaching your children the gospel of God and need to speak their language,” he said.
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Anthony Jelason commended Danjuma for always bringing developmental projects to the state.
Ishaku prayed to God to grant Danjuma long life in good health to continue to support Taraba and humanity.
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