Hausa Language Terminology Development for Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria

The rapid expansion of information and communication technology in Nigerian society creates an urgent need for the development of Hausa language terminology to describe digital technologies, platforms, and operations in ways accessible to Hausa-speaking users, particularly those with limited English proficiency. This study examines the professional challenges of ICT terminology development in Hausa, drawing on the experience of language planners, software localisation professionals, and Hausa language specialists working in this emerging field. A professional applied language planning design was employed, combining interviews with 16 professionals engaged in Hausa ICT localisation work at organisations including the Kano State Geographic Information Systems Authority, a Hausa-interface mobile application developer, and the National Language Centre, with analysis of existing Hausa-language software interface terminology and user feedback data. The study examines terminology creation strategies including calque, semantic extension of existing Hausa terms, and borrowing, assessing user acceptance of each approach through a survey of 150 Hausa smartphone users. Findings reveal that Hausa users most readily accept and correctly interpret terminology based on semantic extension of familiar Hausa concepts, while phonological adaptation of English ICT terms is less consistently understood across educational levels. A significant terminology gap exists in areas of cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital financial services. Recommendations address establishment of a national Hausa ICT terminology board, development of a Hausa technology glossary, and integration of technology localisation into Hausa language planning academic programmes. Keywords: Hausa, ICT terminology, Language planning, Localisation, Digital communication.