By Tony Adibe
The Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Uchenna Ugwu has said that the assembly would continue to promote and support Igbo language and culture to ensure its sustainability among the people.
Ugwu said this on Tuesday during an event to commemorate International Mother Language Day 2025 in Enugu organised by Igbo Efula, an indigenous NGO promoting Igbo language and culture.
We all have a duty to teach our children (the next generation of Ndigbo), the Igbo language, culture and our rich heritage as Igbo people, according to him. He said: “I am glad to see secondary school students participating in all Igbo promotion subjects/ideas here today.
“The Enugu State House of Assembly will continue to support and sustain all efforts aimed at promoting the Igbo language and culture for the benefit of children and to ensure it will never go extinct.”
Ugwu lauded the Igbo Efula for its nationally acknowledged efforts towards the promotion of Igbo language, culture, heritage and more. In her speech, the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, commended the organiser of the event – Igbo Efula – for steadily working for the promotion of Igbo language over the years.
“We all have a duty in ensuring that Igbo language grows and flourishes. However, parents have a big duty in ensuring that their children learn to speak Igbo from their homes,” she said.
Also, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Ikechukwu Asadu (Ogadagidi), pledged the support of traditional rulers in promotion of Igbo language and culture as well as support of organisations promoting advancement of Igbo language.
The Chairman of the event, Prince Chukwuemeka Onyesoh (Oba Agbalanze), urged Igbo Efula to explore ways of working together with other organisations that equally have the goal of promoting Igbo language.
“I sincerely commend the organisers of this event – Igbo Efula – and urge all of us to take up the task of ensuring the promotion of Igbo language in our homes and localities,” he said.
In his remarks, former Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, urged them all to support Igbo Efula to ensure that their lofty and onerous task of reviving and promoting Igbo language was achieved.
Agubuzu, who is also Chairman, Board of Trustees of Igbo Efula, expressed his appreciation to all the dignitaries who honoured the organiser’s invitation.
In an opening address, President, Igbo Efula, Mazi Ikechukwu Oji called for more emphasis to be placed on the younger generation realising why they must speak Igbo fluently without compulsion. Oji urged various levels of government and other stakeholders to support the Igbo film and music language industry, as the surest way of promoting Igbo language.
According to Oji, “The surest way of promoting Igbo language is by promoting the Igbo language industry, by supporting all those who earn a living through Igbo language such as Igbo Nollywood artistes, Igbo language teachers, Igbo language authors, musicians, journalists, etc.
“Logically, it is their business to promote Igbo language, and the growth of their business is symbiotically linked to the growth of the language.”
NewsBits reports that the event featured: the launching of a sticker in promotion of Igbo language, a musical performance in Igbo language, a secondary school students’ Igbo proverbs competition, and presentation on the importance of Kolanut in Igbo culture by pupils of Fresh Grace Montessori School, Enugu.
