Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Igbo women under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, have called for immediate reversal of the ban on Igbo language by some private schools in the South-East.
This is as IWA, Ala Igbo Development Foundation, ADF, and relevant stakeholders including traditional rulers and university lecturers, have vowed to resist any act that could lead to the extinction of Igbo language and culture.
These were part of the highlights of the gathering of the stakeholders at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State to mark this year’s United Nations Mother Tongue Day.
The event which was organised by IWA in partnership with ADF, was attended by women delegations from five South-Eastern States; university lecturers, teachers, students, traditional rulers, among others.
Speaking at the event, the National President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, noted with great concern, the unpatriotic attitude of many Igbo, particularly mothers, towards Igbo language.
She decried the preference for the English language to Igbo language as a means of communication in many Igbo homes.
Lolo Chimezie charged Igbo women to proudly speak Igbo language to their children right from the formative years so they could appreciate the beauty of the language as they grow.
The IWA President who insisted that the Igbo language is not inferior to any language, said mothers would be held responsible “if Igbo language goes into extinction” due to their unwillingness to speak their mother tongue to their children.
Lolo Nneka expressed displeasure that while she was spending her personal resources to prevent Igbo language from going into extinction as predicted by the United Nations about 19 years ago, elected Igbo leaders take back seat in the campaign.
She solicited the support of South-East states to women in the crusade, pledging that Igbo women if encouraged, could actually within five years, make Igbo a leading language in Nigeria.
Lolo Chimezie argued that Ndigbo could take advantage of their ubiquity (presence in every part of the world), to make Igbo, the world’s most popular language.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion and former Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University Uturu, ABSU, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, thanked IWA for its efforts to revive Igbo language and culture.
The former Secretary to State Government, SSG, Abia State, strongly stressed the need for the promotion of Igbo language to be backed up with legislation by Government in Igboland.
Professor Mkpa who called for collaboration among the relevant stakeholders including monarchs and religious leaders, urged the Igbo elite to place Igbo language above other languages.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen, who represented the Governor’s wife, called on Abia women to speak their mother tongue to their children.
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, who sent in a goodwill message, commended IWA for championing the revival of Igbo language.
Urging every Igbo to come on board the campaign, Senator Wabara, pledged his full support for IWA, and every effort to prevent the death of Igbo language and culture.
The occasion featured presentation of papers by some resource persons including Professor Chukwu Okolo of the Ebonyi State University; Professor Nkechi Ohaike; and Dr Chinedu Ofomata.
In a remark, the wife of Abia former Deputy Governor, Lady Vivian Oko Chukwu, persuaded mothers to monitor their children and ensure they speak Igbo especially in the house.
Lady Oko Chukwu who said had resolved that Igbo would be the only means of communication between her and her children while at home, urged mothers to follow suit.
Later in a communique read by former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Abia State, Lady Chinedu Brown, Igbo women declared their resolve to take every necessary action to revive Igbo language.
They frowned at the ban of Igbo language or vernacular in some schools, and demanded that henceforth, Igbo language should be made compulsory in every school in Igboland.
The women also demanded that henceforth, Igbo language should be made the official means of communication in every Igbo gethering.
Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Godwin Ubochi; former Abia SSG, Dr Eme Okoro and his wife; former House member, and the traditional ruler of Ugwu Nkpa, HRH Eze PC Onyegbu; renowned Linguist, Professor Roseline Ndumele of ABSU; former Executive Secretary, National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Dr Godwin Asumugha; IWA Chairperson in Abia and former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Dr Nene Iroakasi, were among personalities at the event.
Cultural troupes from Abia, Ebonyi and Imo, as well as roundtable discussion, featured at the colourful event attended by guests from different states in the South-East.
IWA, held last year’s Mother Tongue Day in Owerri, Imo State.
