I needed a softcopy of the 'Map of Nigerian Languages' by the National Library of Nigeria. Unfortunately, all the softcopies I found where not useful to me because the image resolution was poor (see images below). So I decided to re-produce one from scratch.
Radio Nigeria has a copy of the map here but it is of low resultion for my use. Although it served as a reference for the new map i intend to reproduce. I also referenced this video on National Library of Nigeria facebook page.
For the list of languages, I utilized this source from National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to prepare the list below in JSON format:-
'[{"STATES":"ABIA","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"ADAMAWA","LANGUAGES":"Bachama, Bali, Bare, Batta, Bena, Bille, Boga, Baba, Bura, Chamba, Chobbo, Dangsa, Dadiya, Dera, Dijim-Bwilim, Dirim, Dibanci, Dong, Doso, Fali, Fulfude, Gaa, Ga’anda, Gbaya-Northeast, Gola, Gengle, Gira, Gongla, Gorobi, Gude, Gudu, Gwaba, Hide, Higgi, Holma, Hona, Huba, Hwana, Hya, Jenjo, Kaan, Kanakuru, Kamwe, Kofa, Koma, Korna, Kpasam, Kugama, Jango, Jkumba, Kilba, Kwa, Kwak, Koma, Laka, Lala, Lak-Roba, Lamang, Libbo, Lunguda, Loo, Matakam, Mobas, Mafa, Marghi South, Mboi, Mbongno, Mbula-Bwazza, Mingang Mumuye, Muchala, Mwana,Ngoshe, Ngwaba, Njayi, Njerep, Nona, Nyong, Nzanyi, Psikye, Samba Leko, Sate, Sukur, Tambo,Tangale, Teme, The, Tso, Vemgo, Verre, Volma, Voro, Waja, Wom, Wula, Yandang, Yundur, Zizilivakan"},{"STATES":"AKWA IBOM","LANGUAGES":"Anang, Efai, Eki, Ekit, Etebi, Ibibio, Ibino, Ibuoro, Idere, Iko, Ilue, Itu Mbon Uzo, Okobo, Uda"},{"STATES":"ANAMBRA","LANGUAGES":"Igbo, Igala"},{"STATES":"BAUCHI STATE","LANGUAGES":"Ajawa, Beele, Bure, Ciwogai, Dass, Daza, Deno, Diri, Duguri, Galambu, Gamo-Ningi, Fulfude, Geji, Gera, Giiwo, Gwa, Gyem, Izere, Jimi, Ju, Karekare, Kariya Kir-Balar, Kubi Kudu, Kudu Camo, Kutto, Kwaami, Labir, Lame Lenoro, Lere, Luri, Mangas, Mburku, Miya Pa’a,-Kwonci, Sanga, Saya, Shau, Shiki, Shuva-Siri, Sur, Tala Tunzuii, Vaghat-Ya-Bijin-Legeri, Warji, Zangwal, Zari, Zeem, Ziriya"},{"STATES":"BAYELSA","LANGUAGES":"Abureni, Epie, Do Southeast, Kirike, Odual, Ogbia, Okochia, Kugbo, Izon"},{"STATES":"BENUE","LANGUAGES":"Agatu, Akpa, Basa, Edumoga, Eloyi, Etulo, Igede, Igbo, Idoma, Iyala, Kukele, Koring, Otank, Odual, Otukpo, Otukpa, Orokam, Peere, Samba-Daka, Tite, Tiv Wanna, Surubu, Utonkon"},{"STATES":"BORNO","LANGUAGES":"Afade, Arabic, Shuwa, Bure-Pabir, Ciback, Aghwede, Fullfude, Glauda, Guduf-Gara, Gvoko Hide, Jara, Jilbe, Kanuri, Lamang, Kurama, Mafa, Marghi South, Tadaga, Tera, Wandda, Yedina Cinen, Babur-Bura."},{"STATES":"CROSS RIVER","LANGUAGES":"Awgagwune, Alege, Bakpinka, Bekwarra, Betc-Bendi, Bokyi, Bumaji, Doko Uyanga, Ebughu, Efik, Efutop, Ejagham, Evant, Kevemaci, Ito, Kiong, Kohumono, Korop, Kukele, Lenyima, Leyigha, Lokaa Lubila, Mbembe, Nde-Nsele-Nta, Ndoe, Nkem-Nkum, Nkukoli, Nnam, Obanlinku, Obolo, Odut Olulomo, Ikom, Oring, Oro Otank, Putukwan, Tamajag, Ubaghara, Ubangi Ukpe-Bayobiri, Ukpet-Ehom, Umon, Usaghade, Uzekwe, Tacc, Yaka"},{"STATES":"DELTA","LANGUAGES":"Eruwa, Isekiri, Isoko Izon, Kalabari, Ogboronuagum, Okpe, Urhobo, Vubie, Ika, Ukwani-Aboh-Ndoni"},{"STATES":"EDO","LANGUAGES":"Edo, Emai-Luleha-Ora, Enwan, Esan, Ghotuo, Ibilo, Idesa, Igwe, Ihevbe, Ika, Ikpeshi, Ivebe-North-Okpela-Arhe, Ososo, Sasaru, Ukaan, Uneme, Uokha Yekhee"},{"STATES":"EKITI","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"EBONYI","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"ENUGU STATE","LANGUAGES":"Igbo, Igala"},{"STATES":"GOMBE","LANGUAGES":"Awak, Bangunji, Bolewa, Boh, Burak, Cham, Dadiya, Deji Fulani, Gasi, Ggizim, Hausa, Hone, Jara, Jukun, Kamo, Kana-Kuru, Kanuri, Koma, Kare-Kare, Kushi, Lunguda, Marghi South, Ngamo Pero, Tangale, Tera, Tso, Tula, Tuk, Kamo, Waja, Wurkum"},{"STATES":"IMO","LANGUAGES":"Igbo"},{"STATES":"JIGAWA","LANGUAGES":"Auyokawa, Fulfude, Kanuri, Teshenawa, Kurama, Hausa"},{"STATES":"KADUNA","LANGUAGES":"Amo, Ashe, Atsam, Ayu, Begbere-Ejar, Bina, Cinder-Regi-Tiyal, Cori, Doka, Dungu, Dza, Gbagyi, Gbiri-Niragu, Fulfude, Hyam Idon,M Idun, Iku-Gora-An-Kwa, Izere, Jere, Jiu, Kadara, Kaningkom-Nindem, Kanufi, Kataf, Kinuku, Kono, Kuturmi, Mada, Mala, Ndun, Ningye, Ninzo, Nungu, Nyeng, Piti, Rogo, Ruma, Saya, Sha, Shamang, Tumi Zhire"},{"STATES":"KANO","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Gibannawa, Hausa, Kurama, Amo"},{"STATES":"KATSINA","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"KEBBI","LANGUAGES":"Acipa, Cinda-Regi, Fulfude, Tital, C’lela, Dendi, Hunsaare, Kyenga, Peshe, Tsikimba, Ut-Ma’in, Hausa,"},{"STATES":"KOGI","LANGUAGES":"Alere, Basa, Ebira, Eggan, Gwari, Igala, Kakanda, Koto, Kupa, Oko-Eni-Osayeri, Okun, Okpamheri, Saya, Ogori"},{"STATES":"KWARA","LANGUAGES":"Batonu, Bagobiri, Bokobaru, Fulfude, Hausa, Nupe, Yoruba"},{"STATES":"LAGOS","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba, Awori"},{"STATES":"NASARAWA","LANGUAGES":"Afo, Agatu, Agoi, Ake, Alago, Alumutesu, Arum, Ashe, Basa-Gumna, Buh, Duhwa, Eggo, Fulani, Gade, Gbagyi, Goemai, Gwandara, Ham, Hausa, Hasha, Jukun, Kantana, Kofyar, Koro, Kulere, Lijili, Migili, Mada, Mama, Ninzo-Nungu, Nyankpa, Saya, Yeskwa"},{"STATES":"NIGER","LANGUAGES":"Asu, Baangi, Basa-Gumna, Basa-Gurmana, Basa-Kon Tagora, Busa, Gishinginni, C’ida, Dendi, Dibo, Fungwa Gbari, Gurmana, Gwandara, Hungworo, Hun-Saare, Ija-Zuba, Kadara, Kakanda, Kakihum, Laru, Lopa, Nepe-Nope-Tako, Pongu, Rogo, Shama-Sambuga, Tsikimba, Tsishinginni, Tsuvadi"},{"STATES":"OGUN","LANGUAGES":"Gun, Yoruba, Egba, Ijebu, Owu, Awori, Yewa."},{"STATES":"ONDO","LANGUAGES":"Ahan, Akpes, Arigidi, Ayere, Ehuem, Iyayu, Uhami, Ukaan, Ukue, Yoruba, Okpamher"},{"STATES":"OSUN","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"OYO","LANGUAGES":"Yoruba"},{"STATES":"PLATEAU","LANGUAGES":"Atsam, Bada, Berom, Boghom, Bo-Rukul, Cakfem-Mushere, Casacen, Centum, Che, Como Karim, Dibo, Duguri, Etem, Fulfude, Fyaam, Fyer, Ganang, Goemai, Horom, Iguta, Irigwe, Izora, Janji, Jorto, Koenoem, Kotyar, Kulere, Lemoro, Kurama, Miship, Montol, Mundet, Mwaghavul, Ngas, Numan, Panawa, Pe, Pyapun, Ron, Sambe, Saya, Shakara, Shalkl-Zwall, Sheni, Sur, Tal, Tanjijili, Tarok, Toro, Tunzuii, Tyap, Vaghotya-Bijim-Legeri, Wapan, Wapha, Yangkam, Yiwom, Yukumben, Zumb."},{"STATES":"RIVERS","LANGUAGES":"Baan, Biseni, Defaka, Degema, Ekpeye, Eleme, Engenni, Gokana, Ibani, Ikwere, Izon, Kalabari, Khana, Kugbo, Obulom, Olchichi, Ogbah, Ogbogolo, Okochia, Ukwani-Aboh-Ndoni."},{"STATES":"SOKOTO","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"TARABA","LANGUAGES":"Abon, Akum, Ambo, Anca, Batu, Bête, Bitare, Bukwen, Buru, Como Karim, Dadiya, Dong, Dzodinka, Esimbi, Ettywan, Feli Of Baissa, Fam, Fulfude, Fum, Jiba, Jibu, Jiru, Jukun-Takkum, Kam, Kapya, Kholok, Kpan, Kpati, Kulung, Kutep, Kpak, Lamja-Dengsa-Tola, Lamnso, Leeelau, Limbum, Lufu, Maghadi, Mak, Mambilla, Marghi Central, Marghi South, Mbembe, Tijan, Mingang Doso, Moo, Mvanip Ned-Gbite, Ndoola, Ndunda, Nshi, Nyam, Rangishoo-Mindanye, Somyev, Viti, Waka, Wapan, Yamba."},{"STATES":"YOBE","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Kanuri, Bade, Hausa, Ngamo, Shuwa Kanuri, Manga, Karekare, Marghi Central, Marghi South."},{"STATES":"ZAMFARA","LANGUAGES":"Fulfude, Hausa"},{"STATES":"FCT","LANGUAGES":"Bassa, Gbagyi, Hausa, Gwandara, Gade"}]'The following states have more than ten (10) major and minor spoken indigenous languages: ADAMAWA, PLATEAU, TARABA, BAUCHI, CROSS RIVER, KADUNA, NASARAWA, GOMBE, NIGER, BENUE, BORNO, RIVERS, EDO, AKWA IBOM, KOGI, KEBBI, ONDO, DELTA, and YOBE. The table below shows the total number languages for each state.
To prepare the map, I made use of Inkscape vector graphics software since the map is not a GIS specific task without scientific cartography elements such as scale, north arrow, grid, projection etc.
"Scientific maps adhere strictly to the principles of cartography and geospatial information science (GIS). On the other hand, Non-scientific maps often sacrifice technical accuracy for ease of use, aesthetic appeal, or conceptual clarity".
The map is more of a conceptual communication map not a measured scientific map that requires the use of GIS tool.
