Bible translation: Okun, Epie and Ogbia NT Bibles ready
The Bible Society of Nigeria has broken an over 54-year-old Bible translation record with the completion of three New Testament translations in a record time of five years.
A statement by the Society’s Media Manager, Mr. Benjamin Mordi made available to Church Times informs.
The Society according to the statement “had set a period of 12 years for the completion of a Bible translation project, which it has never achieved since it was founded in 1966.
“But it has been able to complete the Epie, Ogbia New Testaments in five years and Okun New Testament within four years and three months.
“Its latest two full Bibles – Kalabari and Okrika, which were dedicated in 2018, took over 40 years each to be completed.
“The Old Testaments of the Epie, Ogbia and Okun Bibles are currently in advanced stages of completion.
“The Society has so far spent ₦161.87 million on the Epie and Ogbia Bible translation projects, while the sum of ₦47.85 million has been spent on the Okun Bible translation project.
General Secretary CEO of The Bible Society of Nigeria Dr Dare Ajiboye
“While 12 translators have been working on the Epie and Ogbia projects that were started from the scratch with the development of the orthography of the two languages, three translators were engaged for the Okun project.
“The Bible Society of Nigeria started the Epie and Ogbia Bible translation projects in 2015, while Okun was added in 2016.
“Plans are on to dedicate the New Testaments of these languages later this year. Seven other Bible translation projects in different Nigerian Languages are ongoing.
“The Epie and Ogbia Languages are spoken in Bayelsa State, while Okun is spoken in Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti States.”
