Igbo monarch in Lagos seeks support to inculcate language, culture in youths, commissions education centre

“It is so disheartened that many lgbo parents don’t speak the language to their children, they prefer to communicate in English and as a result many of the children are losing their mother tongue”

By Emmanuel lkpeama

To further propagate and encourage the speaking of lgbo language among children, Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo,Eze (Amb) Nicholas Njoku has reiterated his commitment to enhance the growth of lgbo culture and traditions by taking it further to establish the “Ulo Nmuta Omenala Nasusu Igbo” in Ejigbo, Lagos.

Eze Njoku, the convener stated that it is so disheartened that most of the lgbo parents don’t speak the language to their children, they prefer to communicate in English and as a result many of the children are losing their mother’s tongue.

He went further to state that the event is to raise the awareness for the need to teach and promote the use of the language through various communication channels, encourage the speaking of mother tongue among our wards.

Eze Njoku

The monarch who is an Ambassador with the United Nations opined that the move for the unveiling of the school is coming on the heels of a prediction by the United Nations that the Igbo language will go into extinction in the nearest future, therefore the school would strengthened the moves towards the preservation of lgbo language and culture among the children.

” We have decided to establish this school so as to promote lgbo language, culture and traditions among the children as many no longer speak lgbo,the language is gradually dying, lgbos are known as the custodian of culture, traditions, and proverbs but the children are novice to all of these because the parents have failed to inculcating the language them.

“This school ‘Ulo Nmuta Omenala Nasusu Igbo’ would help our children to know their root, the meaning of their names as most lgbo children decide to bear English names rather than their Igbo names. Therefore this school would be of great value so as for them to know their language, native food and culture so that it won’t go into extinction as predicted, we have decided to take the pain and cost in ensuring that this children are being taught what they are supposed to know as far as Igbo culture is concerned” he said.

Eze Nwokedi

The Chairman of Ndieze Lagos State,Eze(Dr) C.C. Nwokedi appreciated the effort of Eze Nicholas Njoku who have taken it upon himself to inculcate the culture, tradition and norms of Igbo language in the lives of the children and teens.

Eze Okpoko 1 of Ijegun/Ijedodo stated that this event would be an opener for the children to speak language so as for them not to be strangers in their land because of their inability to speak or know the norms and traditions of lgbo language.

He urged the Igbos to rise up and find a way to remedy the situation where the children cannot speak their mother’s tongue, while appealing to parents to make it as a point of duty to begin speaking and teaching their wards the language at home.

Umeugoji

The Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Godwin Umeugoji urged parents to live up to responsibilities of inculcating the culture, heritage of lgbo language to their children, noting that if they fail to do so, in future their children will turn against them.

While commending Eze Njoku for coming to the rescue so that Igbo language would not die a natural death.

Exe Nwoye

In his comments, the Eze lgbo of Ejigbo land,Eze(Dr)Alex Nwoye stated that the school would help the children to understand the importance of lgbo language, while calling on all and sundry to seize the opportunity to enroll their wards so as for them to be able to read and write in lgbo language.

Dr. Kenneth

Chief (Dr)Nkem Mordi Kenneth called on Nigerians especially the south easterners to join hands in ensuring that Igbo language does not go into extinction as predicted, appealing to parents not to relent in teaching their wards the nitty-gritty of the language.

Barr. Onyeaku

Earlier the Chairman Planning committee, Bar Charles Onyeaku in his welcome address said that this is the time and realization for lgbo language to be sustained and reversed toward upward trajectory with a view for expansion beyond the shores.

According to him, the lgbo language before now was the envy of other tribes but today it’s at the verge of extinction as most of the parents now feel ashamed and reluctant to speak Igbo or even identify with the culture or tradition as the children have now become strangers to their own root and are on the verge of embracing alien culture.

He commended Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo who came up with this project to teach Igbo language, culture and traditions to the children and even adults who have the desire to learn. He submitted.

The occasion which had in attendance royal fathers, Ohaneze social group, leaders-of-thought had their ambience of culture and traditions at the highest level,as the children mesmerized the audience with songs, recitations and part of speech all in lgbo language.

Highlight of the event was the unveiling of Ulo Nmuta Omenala Nasusu Igbo and launching of 150 million Naira fund for school bus and school permanent site.

Given, the situation followed the classification of the Igbo mother tongue as one of the endangered languages in the world.