By Gilbert Ekezie
Igbo language, predominantly spoken by South Eastern part of Nigeria and some South-South, and North-Central, is today seen to be heading to extinction, due to negligence, complex and careless embracing of western culture; the English language.
But in the recent time, a new vision, mission and plan to resuscitate interest, a reawakening and sensitization of the people on the need to preserve the enviable language came up.
In a mission to sustain the dying Igbo language and culture , an Igbo Language Newspaper, the ‘Ekwe Kuo Ama Agbaa’, edited by Mazi John Chukwu, with the support of Indigenous Language and Culture Initiative, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State Chapter and Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), used the hosting of International Mother Tongue Day held recently at Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat, Robertson Street, Surulere Lagos to unfold plans on how to revive the enviable language.
The programme with theme “Igbo Language: A dying Language of a Living People.” was attended by Igbo leaders in different fields, members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Members of Igbo Speaking Community, Community leaders, Market leaders etc.
Chairman, Ekwe Kuo Ama Agbaa, Mrs Nneka Chimezie said the conference was being held in response to United Nations’ prediction that Igbo language is going into extinction, so the organization decided to spread the news around to tell Igbo to embrace their language and to do whatever they can to save it.
She posited that Igbo Language is a dying language of a living people, therefore, everybody should join hands to revive if for the future generations. “The language is our own and nobody else can preserve it for us. So, this programme is designed to call on all well meaning Igbo to join hands to see what we can do to save our language from going into extinction. One wonders what will happen in future if we all fold our hands and watch our language and culture die. What will be the fate of course children and grandchildren?”
At the event which has the Secretary of Alaigbo development Foundation (ADF) Hon Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Mok in attendance,
She revealed other plans to ensure the language continues to spread without hitch. “In our efforts to promote and sustain Igbo Language and Culture, we plan to offer scholarship to whoever is willing to study Igbo language in tertiary institution, to be able to have teachers that can teach in schools. We also want to establish Igbo language schools in every corner, every state in Nigeria, in order to give access to our children and to bring Igbo language to their door steps. If God helps us, we want to have Igbo language schools in every street, not just in Lagos, but all over the states in Nigeria.
Shading more light on the origin of mother tongue, Chimezie who is also the National Coordinator of Igbo Women Forum said once a child is created by God in his or her mother’s belly that is the child’s first point of call in the area of language. “Then, when the child is born, the true identity is revealed by the parents who determine the origin and the name to bear. If the parents are Igbo, then, the child will also be an Igbo. Therefore, it is believed that the first language a child speaks, is that of the parents, that makes the home the bed-rock of language. So, if a child cannot speak his language, parents should be blamed for that.”
Chimezie maintained that a child who cannot speak the language of his parents, is as good as having no identity. “May I remind us that a child that cannot speak his or her language, is as good as having no identity because one is defined and identified by his life, not necessarily by name. American, British, Ghanaian, Togolese, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Edo man , will help, defend or care for his countryman first before any other person.”
Chimezie of advised Igbo parents to ensure that their children speak their language fluently. “As parent we should just make it a point of duty to speak our language at home. So that when they eventually grow and leave home, it will be easy for them to mix with other Igbo people where ever they may find themselves.”
The woman leader further disclosed that efforts are being made by her group to advocate for the inclusion of Igbo and Hausa languages in the school curriculum in Lagos State, in order to give pupils and students the opportunity to learn other languages, aside Yoruba. “Nigeria has over 200 languages, but in order to make communication easy, we chose the English, the language of our colonial masters as our lingua franca. But in our bid to retain our mother tongue, the Nigerian state approved the learning of the major three languages; Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba to be taught in schools. This was done so that children will have the opportunity to learn, not just how to speak , but also be able to write in their language. But unfortunately, the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a bill recently that only the Yoruba language will be thought in public schools. For me, that is uncalled for because there are so many ethnic nationalities in the state who need to be carried along. So, I am of the view that the legislation should be revisited. Lagos is not like any state in Nigeria, but once the capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that hosts over twenty million people from all works of life, among whom are Igbo and Hausa. So, it will not be good to deny the children the right to learn how to read and write in their languages. I see it as a modern day colonization, and appeal to the Lagos State government and the Lawmakers to revisit that bill, to enhance more cordial relationship between the government and non indigenous communities in Lagos State, to give them a sense of belonging.”
She regretted that there is not enough Igbo language graduates due insufficient number of Igbo Language teachers. “It has been shown that we don’t have so many graduates of Igbo language, making it difficult to have lgbo teachers or people developing and encouraging the study of the language. It’s quite alarming because it will encourage the study and speaking of our language by our youths.
“We need to build up activities and programmes that will encourage speaking and writing of Igbo Language, to give young people the opportunity to study the art in tertiary institutions. In this light, we need to create jobs and opportunities that will encourage this programmes, so that they can see the need to embark on the study of the language.”
She disclosed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Indigenous Language and Culture Initiative and Ekwe Kuo Ama Agbaa, Igbo Newspaper, have put measures in place for anyone who wants to study Igbo language in tertiary institutions to be fully funded through scholarship.
She was of the opinion that Igbo should reach out to various communities, create more friends, understand themselves and their problems, so as to grow together in business, relationship, family wise, mentally, physically and spiritually. “There is a better bond when we speak our Mother-tongue to one another. There’s a sense of togetherness, oneness and love that we share if we observe closely. So we have to be strong, encourage and empower one another to be more united.”
She stated further “Igbo needs an empowerment medium to support and give scholarship to our children who wishes to learn Igbo language so that they can be encouraged others in future.
Founder of the Indigenous Language and Culture Initiative, Mazi John Ezenwa Chukwu Ezenwa said the initiative gave birth to Ekwe kuo Ama Agbaa, the Igbo language Newspaper.
He explained that the annual programme has been going on for the past 10 years, pointing out that as the day progresses, there would be more people on board to create more awareness, to let people understand what United Nation Mother Tongue means, the importance and why the society need to embrace it.
On the challenges faced by the group he enumerated them to include awareness and limited support. ‘If people understand what we are doing, it will strengthen our goals and aspiration. We launched the first Igbo language newspaper and we have successfully published first and second editions. Now, we are on the third edition.”
According to him, in December 2020, over 10, 000 copies of the Newspaper were printed, and we toured all the Southeastern states and two other states in the south-south. We also visited Omu of Anioma at Okpanam, Delta State and had a rapport with her in the area of promotion of culture and language; We were also able to meet with Alaigbo Development Foundation, as part of promoting Igbo ideology.”
Speaking on the theme of the programme, ‘Igbo language: A dying language of a living people’, President of Ohanaeze Lagos Chapter, Chief Solomon Ogbonna encouraged Ndigbo to speak the language, with a promise to making it compulsory in every gathering of Ndigbo. “Part of it is the reason we are here, to ensure that our language is still flying the way it is supposed to be . We also have to carry our culture , which has been as undiluted and as old as Ndigbo since time immemorial.
“In most of the activities of our people, not only in Lagos, but down East, they use English language to host their meetings, so their meetings are no longer secret, because any warrior who is going to war, has set a strategy before going to the war, so if you are speaking English language, and you want to fight an English man, where is your strategy, you have already told them your secret. Where are the tricks to win the war? You will fail. So we need our language.”
President-General Akpo Development Association, Nze Henry Dim advocated the use of Igbo Language at homes and Igbo social gathering, pointing out that English Language has destroyed the fabrics of Igbo culture and tradition.
Also, President, Market Leaders Association, Lagos , Chief C.F.C Obih called on Ndigbo to do everything possible to inculcate the habit of teaching their children and wards Igbo Language, culture and tradition, as that would not only develop them, but give them sense of belonging.
He said the International Mother Tongue Day, awakens the spirit of individual cultures and tradition, promised to do his best to promote Igbo Language and culture.
Other Igbo leaders who graced the occasion include; Vice President, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos; Hon Obinna Ugwu and one of the critical stakeholders of Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Chris Ekweilo.
