Igbo Language Now Compulsory In Anambra Schools

Anambra State Government has decreed that the study of Igbo language is now compulsory in secondary schools in the state. The state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi made this known at the weekend during a cultural competition in Awka, the state capital.

Obi, while addressing the crowd during the event that took place along the boulevard leading to the abandoned Government House complex said that the government was now determined to bring back the old glorious days of the people.

According to him, since the people abandoned their culture, all sorts of evil had multiplied as some people commit abomination and get away with it. "We have made the study of Igbo language compulsory in all secondary schools in the state. Anybody who wants to read in the state must read Igbo language. The reason why there are so many problems in Igbo land is because we lost our values and culture in our lives. We have no values. People come from anywhere and commit atrocities and get away with it. So we want to tell people that we come from somewhere," he said.

He lamented that Igbo dances, which were so much sought after were now neglected at home adding that major telecommunication networks had all taken the Mkpokiti dance to various international outings while there is a request presently for one of the Igbo dance troupes to accompany a certain organisation to Sweden.

But now he said, "we must go back to our roots; restart the kindred meetings where vital community decisions are taken, because it is the neglect of it that muzzled us from speaking out against evil doers among us," he said.

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prof. Stella Chinyere Okunna the current push in the state was a revival of Igbo culture and tradition and preventing it from going into extinction. "All of us appreciate the quarrels, the wranglings and buck passing that have trailed the back seat that our language and tradition has taken for many years now. What we are doing today are what the governor and executive council cherishes so much for the purposes of preventing Igbo language and culture from going into extinction," she said.

Regretting that out of all tribes in the country, only Igbo had a question mark when it came to language she said the event was an elimination contest for next Abuja National Cultural Festival. According to her, since the last festival, Igbo dances had become a hot cake in many parts of the world.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Goddy Onyekonwu described the event as a day of self recovery because "if we do not know where we are coming from it will be difficult for us to locate our destination. "

By Chukwujekwu Ilozue, Reporter, Onitsha

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A great move by the governor. All states should adopt that asap.

ahh.....na wah o ... so what will happen to other tribes

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I am not sure it is the best idea considering there's a large number of other ethnic groups in Anambra, especially the Hausa. And how would they teach that to new comers? Are going to teach in Igbo or use English for better understanding?

In my opinion, I think there should be some form of encouragement and not this kind of enforcement that will infringe on somebody's rights, though it is a shame for somebody to live in any section of Nigeria for a long period without understanding the language.

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This is a laudable move but i have reservations.
The best thing i would suggest is that Igbo or Hausa or Yoruba or Efik etc ie,one Nigerian Language be made a must in the state.It would convey the freindly-state image that Anambra has and would be quickly adopted by other states.It is not only Igbo language that is on the verge of extinction

I applaud this move.It's about time,too.

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Pure joy in heart! I'm overwhelmed on reading this very uplifting news!

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Bravo!!!
I hope other states in Nigeria follow suit with their languages.
(Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo & Ekiti) - Yoruba
(Bayelsa) - Izon
(Akwa Ibom) - Ibibio
(Niger) - Nupe
(Bornu & Yobe) - Kanuri
(Benue) - Tivi

etc

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Lai lai o, Grafy, let those large number of other ethnic groups learn Igbo. It is even for their own good. I spent one year in Katsina and realised I had no choice but to learn Hausa. In Owerri, there is one Professor Suya, beside UBA on wetheral. Hausa sharp guy! Do you know most people in and around Owerri drive from afar to buy suya from him just because he cracks jokes in Igbo?

You do have a point there. If you wan go France, make u go learn France. Besides, most of the Hausa people I know in Anambra speak fluent Igbo so that concept makes no difference to them. I remember one mallam in my village selling herbal remedy back in the late 80s...

Ogwu! Ogwu! Ogwu jedijedi! Ogwu ahu oku! Ogwu afo osisa!

''Igbo mmiri oku, itinye akagbe, were ngazi kpagharia ya. Nuo otu glass n'ututu na abali...''

Mallam Mallam! We were so fond of that guy... Ibrahim. lol

We actually bought some of his herbs and they worked!

It's not a bad idea but the whole 'by force' thingy get as ebe o.

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I agree and filmmakers should also follow suit by shooting movies in our indigenous languages (just like Yoruba films )

oh no!!....more igbotic pple to deal with....

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