Groups Tasks Igbos On Language

Parents and guardians in the South East geo- political zone of the country have been called upon to go back to their culture and encourage their children and wards to  speak Igbo language with pride.

The President-General / Founder, Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, Lolo (Dr.) Kate Uzoamaka Ezeofor, made the call Tuesday in her address on the occasion of the commemoration of this year’s World Mother Tongue Day- “Igbo Language”, held at the Headquarters of the organisation in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu state.

According to her, “This forum is aimed at educating parents on the importance of mother tongue and to encourage our children, inculcate the values, norms and tenets of our culture. Reports reaching us indicate that in the near future Igbo language may be extinct. It is frightening to imagine the extinction of Igbo language in years to come. I think it is ominously likely, but embarrassing to say that Ndi Igbo do not patronise the Igbo language”, she regretted.

Continuing, Dr. Ezeofor further said: “This has resulted in the language facing gradual extinction. It is difficult to find a person now who can speak Igbo without altering it with English or even see an Igbo man or woman read or write Igbo language well”.

Expressing dismay that many Ndi Igbo have refused to ensure that Igbo is the spoken language in their homes, Dr. Ezeofor explained that members of the organisation that has a large population of  about 15 million has as one of its objectives, the promotion of Igbo language and culture, adding that they have been in the vanguard of revamping Igbo language.

In addition, Umuada Igbo, she went on, “Works with other organisations in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS. The organisation has carried campaigns on these issues to several communities in the South East. To date, umuada Igbo Nigeria has partnered with Vision, Society for Family Health and IPAS and over 150,000 persons have so far benefited from the programme”.

Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Ichie  Linus M. E. Ezeofor, commended Umuada Igbo Nigeria for their tireless efforts in making life better for the people, especially the less privileged in the society.    Umuada Igbo Nigeria, he noted, having been inaugurated at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States last year, “is no longer a small organization, but an international organization well known not only in Nigeria but across the globe, and urged  them not to relent.

He equally advised parents to ensure at all times that their children and wards are encouraged to speak their native language.