BY GORDI UDEAJAH
Ndi Igbo ( Igbo People ) of Nigeria at the weekend insisted that Igbo Language must not die despite the reported prediction credited to the United Nations Organization UNO that it will go into extinction in six years time.
This vow of Ndi Igbo was renewed when Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) in conjunction with Alaigbo Development Foundation ( ADF ) on Friday at Umuahia, Abia state capital, marked/celebrated the 2025 United Nations International Mother Tongue Day themed ” Igbo Language And Culture : A Treasure Worth Preserving ”
The colourful event held at the International Conference Center and featured paper presentations, speeches, panel discussion, cultural displays , had in attendance traditional rulers, academics,students , women groups among others from various walks of life.
They re-emphasized that allowing the Igbo language to die or go into extinction would amount to losing their identity because ” when you lose your language, you lose your identity and cultural heritage”, hence the needful must be done to exclude Igbo Language from among the ones predicted for extinction languages.
The Abia State governor Dr Alex Otti represented in the event by his Commissioner for Art, Culture and Creative Economy Dr Matthew Ekwuribe, underscored the need for Igbo language, Igbo rich cultural heritage and values to be preserved stressing that his administration is working with traditional rulers to revive the hidden and untapped cultural heritage of Igbo people .
Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Ruler Council Eze Linus Nto Mba represented by Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, said the event called for action by parents to inculcate Igbo language and culture in their children from early age.
The event presiding Chairman and former Secretary to the state Government Prof Nkpa Agu Nkpa commended IWA and ADF for organizing the event that provided the platform to recognize the importance of Igbo language, values and rich cultural heritage.
Decrying and lamenting the neglect of Igbo language which she stated is the main identity of Ndi Igbo, the IWA President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie enjoined Ndi Igbo to cherish their Language, tradition and value and jettison patronizing other people’s language and by so doing ensure that Igbo language does not go into extinction.
Many suggestions which were proferred towards invigorating Igbo language and culture included making their teaching and learning mandatory, setting aside some days for all to speak in the language, revive moribund festivals, dress in Igbo attires, naming in Igbo, banning imposition of fine or punishment on pupils who speak in the language.
Others were sustainably holding/celebrating Igbo cultural events or festivals, award of scholarship to students studying the language, giving employments to graduates of the language, tertiary institutions to set up the relevant departments, conducting church services and prayers in Igbo, conducting of legislative sessions in the language, parents / guardians making it the spoken language in their homes, among others.
