Headlines
Google announces additional 110 languages translate
Google on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its language translator, Google Translate with additional 110 new languages to the platform.
Google Translate is a multilingual neural machine translation service developed by Google to translate text, documents and websites from one language into another.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, said in a statement, that this update is part of Google’s 1,000 Languages Initiative.
Kola-Ogunlade said that the initiative uses AI models to support the 1,000 most spoken languages around the world which represents a significant step towards breaking down language barriers and fostering communication across diverse cultures.
He said that the new inclusions included eight languages from across Africa, which now join Nigerian languages Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, and Tiv, which were already supported by Google Translate.
According to him, Google’s mission is to enable everyone, everywhere to understand the world and express themselves across languages.
‘’With the addition of these 110 new languages, including many from Africa, we’re opening up new opportunities for over half a billion people to connect and communicate.
’’Africa with its rich linguistic diversity is a key focus of this expansion,’’ he said
According to him, the addition of numerous African languages underscores Google’s commitment to supporting underrepresented languages and amplifying voices from across the continent.
Kola-Ogunlade said that a lot of consideration had gone into the new language additions for Google Translate, ranging from which languages to include to the use of specific spellings.
He said that many languages do not have a single, standard form, so learning the specific dialect that is spoken the most in an area is more feasible.
“Our approach has been to prioritise the most commonly used varieties of each language.”
According to him, 110 new languages represent over 614 million speakers worldwide, covering around 8 per cent of the world’s population.
He said that this includes major world languages with over 100 million speakers, languages spoken by small Indigenous communities, and languages undergoing revitalisation efforts.
Kola-Ogunlade, however, highlighted languages supported by Google Translate as kikongo, middle Africa, Luo, Swati, Venda in East Africa, Fon, Wolof in West Africa, Swati, Ndebele in South Africa, among others.
(NAN)
Headlines
NOA urges Nigerians to use Eid-el-Maulud for sober reflection
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to utilise the Eid-el-Maulud celebration for introspection and prayers for the nation.
The Director-General of NOA, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, also acknowledged the efforts of the current administration in addressing economic challenges and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Press, Mr Paul Odenyi, Issa-Onilu noted that the administration is working tirelessly to develop the country.
He urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of selflessness, tolerance, peace, love, and fairness exemplified by Prophet Muhammad.
Specifically, Issa-Onilu called on Nigerians to offer prayers for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations.
“I urge the Muslim community to offer supplications to God for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations,” he said.
Issa-Onilu also advised Nigerians to refrain from engaging in any form of lawlessness during the public holiday.
He assured Nigerians that the government had put measures in place to ensure the protection of lives and property during the holiday and beyond.
Headlines
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens in the country.
Alake said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikoro-Ekiti, his country home.
According to the minister, Tinubu is determined to accord dignity to senior citizens by giving them a new lease of life in line with his Renewed Hope Mantra.
Alake said that senior citizens had been adequately factored in all the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
NAN reports that Alake had on Saturday, distributed 1,200 bags of rice to the elderly in Ekiti, irrespective of the political party they belonged to.
He thanked the president for listening to the people and demonstrating a caring heart, noting “1,200 bags of rice was made available to me and each minister to further supplement the established channels of distribution.
“We need to reach out to our aged fathers and mothers at times like this to demonstrate the Omoluabi values of taking care of the old in the community.
“In the spirit of inclusion, it is important that we channel this intervention to mainly elderly citizens.
“This is because they do not have the strength to compete for welfare goods such as these at the established centres. We have taken their inventory and we are delivering it to them.
“Subsequent interventions will target other segments of the populace, such as widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities and students in higher institutions of learning,” he said.
The minister said that the onus was on the people to care for the elderly by focusing on issues affecting them, adding that every individual would grow old and require the support of the younger generation at some point in life.
Headlines
Eid-el-Maulud: First Lady preaches peace, harmony
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has rejoiced with the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Oluremi in a message to mark the occasion on Monday in Abuja, urged the Muslims to use the opportunity to reflect on the teachings of love, kindness, and tolerance of Prophet Muhammad.
In her words, “This will help us to build a stronger community and a more harmonious society.
“I felicitate with the Muslim Ummah across our great nation as we celebrate this year’s Maulud Nabiyy, the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“This occasion reminds us of the values of peace, compassion, and unity that the Prophet exemplified throughout his life.
“May the blessings of this day bring joy and peace to our homes and our country,” she said.
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