The Pragmatics Association of Nigeria, PrAN, in collaboration with the Departments of English and Literary Studies, Mass Communication, and Linguistics, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumini, Port Harcourt, has concluded a three-day international conference.
The 9th conference, held from June 10 to 12, 2026, was themed – “Pragmatics of Silence”.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchuku, former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Kingdom T. Orji, said silence plays vital roles in conflict resolution. He noted that “speech is silver but silence is golden,” adding that silence is a strategic form of communication that helps individuals and groups avoid conflict.
The keynote speaker, Lead Pastor of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunwa, said silence is when man communicates effectively with God. He attributed disunity within Christendom to excessive noise and urged Christians to make silence the center of their relationship with God to attract spiritual blessings.
The Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Ibiere Ken-Maduako, said the conference was organized to educate participants on the pragmatic use of language. She stated that silence is a pragmatic form of communication and that keeping silent on certain issues carries meaning.
The National President of PrAN, Prof. Pius Akhimien, described the theme as timely for resolving conflicts in families and society. He said applying silence at the right time can prevent issues, especially between husband and wife, and called silence a powerful strategy to avoid escalation of conflicts.
The Publicity Secretary of the Association, Dr. Tosin Olatunji, said participants networked, collaborated, and learned new innovations. He concluded that “the pragmatics of silence means practical communication is strategic when silence is applied.”
By Ben Owen Asuk
