Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government says it will henceforth organise regular quiz competitions among nursery, primary and post-primary school pupils and students to promote Igbo language, culture and tradition in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, said this in Enugu during the commemoration of the 2024 International Mother Language Day.
The commemoration was organised by Igbo Efula and the Centre for (Igbo) Memories.
Madueke also said that her ministry would also go ahead to print Igbo calendars to also promote Igbo language and tradition.
“A calendar that will have the four market days and the normal seven range of four market days that make-up the 28 days in Igbo calendar.
“It will be made of more informative and educational pictures and write-ups on Igbo language and culture for our children to learn,” she said.
The commissioner said that her ministry would also use other platforms and programmes within its limited resources to keep promoting Igbo language and culture within social gatherings and public places.
“I must commend the organisers of this event as well as everyone working hard to promote Igbo language, culture and tradition within the state,” she added.
In a goodwill message, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said that the organisation had put in place mechanism to ensure every child of Igbo extraction will not just understand Igbo language, but can read, write, tell Igbo proverbs/idioms.
Iwuanyanwu, who was represented by the publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonna, appreciated the organisers, adding that the organisation would continue to support groups and foundations that promote Igbo language and culture within and outside Nigeria.
Professor Uzodinma Nwala, Founder of Alaigbo Development Foundation, tasked all families, Igbo-based institutions and communities to start early to teach Igbo language and carry along children and wards in all aspects of Igbo culture, tradition and civilization.
Nwala, who is also an emeritus professor of philosophy, noted that the event was apt and a veritable one to ensure that Igbo language, culture, tradition and civilization would never go extinct.
Earlier, Mazi Bismarck Oji, Coordinator of Igbo Efula, encouraged mothers to be in the fore-front of teaching Igbo language at home, adding that it should start while the child is in the womb.
Oji said that it had become critical as mothers and women spend more time with children at home, adding that they should focus on speaking Igbo language and ensure that children clearly understand the language from cradle.
Highpoints of the event included the award to three personalities that have promoted Igbo language in Enugu State; competition among secondary school students on Igbo spelling and proverbs as well as entertainment by Igbo Dance Academy.
