The Department of Languages and Linguistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, is set to host its fourth international conference, bringing together scholars, researchers and communication professionals to examine the intersection of language, artificial intelligence (AI), digital communication and societal transformation.
The conference, themed “Language, Communication, and Society in an Era of Disruptive Technologies,” is scheduled to hold from November 4 to 7, 2026, at the university's main campus in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to the organisers, the conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for interrogating the implications of emerging technologies for language use, communication practices, cultural preservation, education and social interaction.
The event is expected to attract academics, postgraduate students, media practitioners and other professionals interested in understanding how rapid technological advancements are reshaping linguistic practices and communication systems.
Professor Michael Olugbenga Adileye, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, will deliver the keynote address.
Other distinguished speakers include Professor B. M. Mbah, Director of the Centre for Igbo Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who will deliver the first lead paper, and Professor Ngozi Ugo Emeka-Nwobia, immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at EBSU, who will present the second lead paper.
Rasheed Ademola Adebivi, Director of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Technology at Fountain University, Osogbo, will deliver the third lead paper.
The organisers said the contributions of the speakers would enrich discussions on contemporary linguistic research, indigenous languages, digital innovation, media development and the evolving relationship between technology and society.
The conference will focus on 15 thematic areas, including artificial intelligence and digital humanities; media, misinformation and digital communication; indigenous languages and technological inclusion; language, security, conflict and peacebuilding; education, digital literacy and knowledge production; and translation, multilingualism and global communication.
Other areas of focus include language policy, governance and development; language, identity, culture and social change; climate, sustainability and environmental communication; linguistic theory; discourse, pragmatics and interaction; journalism and public communication; language, cognition and human-machine interaction; and language, health, religion and human well-being.
Researchers are also encouraged to submit original, unpublished papers addressing other relevant interdisciplinary issues relating to language and communication.
Abstracts are expected to contain between 250 and 300 words, accompanied by three to five keywords. Submissions must clearly outline the research problem, objectives, methodology, findings or arguments, and the significance of the study.
The organisers indicated that abstracts could be submitted in English, Nigerian languages or French. Submissions in other languages must be accompanied by English translations.
Authors are also required to provide their names, institutional affiliations, preferred presentation tracks and presentation formats, indicating whether they intend to participate physically or virtually.
Abstracts are to be submitted to ebsulings.conf@ebsu.edu.ng. However, the initial submission deadline of September 30, 2026, has elapsed, and prospective contributors have been advised to contact the organisers to establish whether late submissions are still being accepted.
The conference programme will commence on Wednesday, November 4, with participants' arrival, registration and a pre-conference workshop.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Auditorium, EBSU main campus. A conference workshop will follow from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Technical sessions will hold on Friday, November 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by the conference dinner at 6 p.m.
Registration fees are set at ₦30,000 for regular physical participants and ₦25,000 for regular virtual participants.
Postgraduate students are to pay ₦15,000, while undergraduate students will pay ₦5,000. The early-bird registration period, which attracted reduced fees, ran from August 1 to September 30.
Physical registration covers conference materials, breakfast and lunch.
The conference is hosted by Dr Goodluck Chigbo Nwode, Head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, with Professor Nkechi Emma-Echiegu, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, serving as co-host.
The Local Organising Committee is chaired by Dr Jeremiah Anene Nwankwegu, while Dr Edith Ada Anyanwu serves as secretary. Professor Michael Ugota Awoke, Vice-Chancellor of EBSU, is the chief host.
For further information, prospective participants can contact the organisers on +2348035606726 or +2347039469389, or send an email to ebsulings.conf@ebsu.edu.ng.
The conference is expected to foster scholarly collaboration and knowledge exchange on the opportunities and challenges presented by disruptive technologies, particularly their implications for linguistic diversity, public communication and societal development.
