The Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Uche Callistus Ugwu, has commended Igbo Efula, an organization dedicated to the promotion of the Igbo language, for their significant efforts in preserving and revitalizing the language.
Speaking at an event organized by Igbo Efula in Enugu on Friday, March 14, 2025, to commemorate International Mother Language Day, the lawmaker emphasized the need to pass Igbo language and culture to future generations.
“I commend Igbo Efula for their noteworthy efforts towards the promotion of the Igbo language. That is why I had to attend personally despite my tight schedule. We all have a duty to teach our children, the next generation of Ndigbo, the Igbo language. Therefore, I’m glad to see secondary school students participating here today,” Ugwu stated.
The Speaker also reaffirmed his commitment, along with that of the Enugu State House of Assembly, to supporting all efforts aimed at sustaining the language. As part of the event, he presented the championship cup to Queens School, Enugu, which emerged victorious in this year’s International Mother Language Day Igbo Proverbs Competition. May Blossom Secondary School, Enugu, and City Girls Secondary School, Enugu, finished as the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Promoting Igbo Language Among Youth
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, MNSE, COREN, President of Igbo Efula, explained the reason for shifting the event from February 21, the official date for International Mother Language Day.
“The event was moved to March 14 because secondary school students, who are the focus of this year’s celebration, were on mid-term break on February 21. We took this decision to ‘catch them young.’ Our adolescents are the future of our language. More emphasis must be placed on getting them to realize why they must speak Igbo fluently, without compulsion,” Oji said.
He further urged the government and stakeholders to support the Igbo language industry, highlighting its role in sustaining the language.
“According to experts, the surest way of promoting the Igbo language is by supporting those who earn a living through it, such as Nollywood artistes, Igbo language teachers, authors, journalists, and content creators. The growth of their businesses is symbiotically linked to the survival of the language,” he added.
Government and Traditional Rulers Pledge Support
In her remarks, the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, lauded Igbo Efula for their dedication to preserving the language.
“We all have a duty in ensuring that the Igbo language grows and flourishes rather than going extinct. However, parents have the primary responsibility of teaching their children Igbo from home,” Madueke emphasized.
The event’s chairman, Okpala Eze Nri Chukwuemeka Onyesoh (Oba Agbalanze), also praised Igbo Efula’s work and encouraged collaborations with other organizations working toward the same goal.
HRM Igwe Ambassador L.O.C. Agubuzu, OON, CFR, former chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and chairman of Igbo Efula’s Board of Trustees, expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries in attendance and urged continued support for the organization’s mission.
Similarly, HRM Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu (Ogadagidi), Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, commended Igbo Efula’s president, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, for his unwavering dedication to the cause. He assured that traditional rulers in Enugu State would continue to support efforts to preserve the language.
Cultural Showcases and School Participation
The event featured notable dignitaries, including:
• Hon. Okey Mba, Deputy Minority Whip, Enugu State House of Assembly
• Pharm. Chika Ugwuoke, Enugu State Commissioner for Labour & Productivity (represented by Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nnaji)
• Agbalanze Chike Madueke, President, Aka Ikenga, Lagos
• Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu, Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu
• Mazi ’Zulu Ofoelue, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Enugu Chapter
The event’s highlights included the launch of a sticker for Igbo language promotion, a musical performance by Igbo artiste Bukas, and a Secondary School Students Igbo Proverbs Competition. Pupils from Fresh Grace Montessori School, Enugu, also delivered a dramatic presentation on the importance of kolanut in Igbo culture.
Cultural performances were presented by students from:
• Fresh Grace Montessori School, Enugu
• May Blossom Secondary School, Enugu
• City Girls Secondary School, Enugu
Other schools in attendance included College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, Day Secondary School, Independence Layout, Enugu, and Queens School, Enugu.
Preserving the Igbo Language Starts at Home
In her welcome address, Lolo Nkeoma Lilian Agbo, chairperson of the event’s organizing committee, expressed gratitude to all attendees and urged parents to actively teach their children Igbo at home.
“Our homes are the foundation of language preservation. If we fail to pass our language to our children, we risk losing it entirely,” she warned.
Njenje Media will continue to monitor and report on efforts to safeguard the Igbo language and culture.
