Make Igbo first Language for children, group urges Igbo parents
The National President of Igbo Women Assembly, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, has enjoined parents to ensure that their children learn to speak the Igbo language as their means of communication by speaking it to them at home.
She said the practice will help preserve the Igbo language from going into extinction.
Recall that United Nations had predicted that the Igbo language was among endangered languages that may go into extinction in the next 50 years.
Chimezie spoke during the 2025 International Mother Language Day in Umuahia the Abia State with the theme; “Igbo Language and Culture: A Treasure Worth Preserving.”
She listed some panaceas that would arrest the downward trend of the Igbo language to include making it a compulsory subject in all primary and secondary schools and establishing special schools for Igbo studies.
Speaking during the event Governor Alex Otti, said government will soon come up with measures to enable Students in all Schools speak and learn in Igbo language
Gov. Otti urged Ndi-Igbo to preserve the Igbo language from going into extinction as predicted by the United Nation.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr Matthew Ekwuribe, said the state government would in no distant time organize cultural weeks and competitions in Igbo language in the Schools as a way of preserving the language
Otti who spoke in Igbo Language, attributed the gradual extinction of Igbo language on parents and teachers not doing enough to teach the children the cultures of Igbo land and called on Ndi-Igbo to be proud of their Mother Tongue
Also speaking, the wife of the governor Mrs Prescilla Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, appealed to the Mothers who are closer to their children not to let the language fade away because of not speaking it to their children
The International Mother Language Day which was aimed at promoting awareness of linguistic and cultural diversities, was organised by “Igbo Women Assembly” in conjunction with “Alaigbo Development Foundation” while the event was chaired by a Former Secretary to the State Government Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa.