The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the Igbo language by making it a mandatory subject in schools.
This initiative aims to prevent the language from fading into obscurity.
Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu disclosed this while serving as the guest of honour at the grand finale of Ekere Mgba Akpauche, an Igbo-themed competition organized by the Catholic Diocese of Aba.
“The new Abia is interested in reviving Igbo language by trying to see how we will make Igbo compulsory in the curriculum and should be given a priority by the South-East Governors while making it compulsory at all levels of education,” Emetu stated.
Expressing concern over the dominance of English over Igbo in daily communication, he lamented that such a shift aligns with predictions that the language could become extinct in the near future.
Commending the Catholic Diocese of Aba and other bodies dedicated to reviving the language, Emetu also criticized the reluctance of many Igbo parents and guardians to speak Igbo at home, which he believes has contributed to its decline.
In his welcome address, the Bishop of Aba Diocese, Rt. Rev. Augustine Echema, praised the state government for its support of Igbo language revitalization efforts.
He also acknowledged Rev. Fr. Onyinye Anaeto for conceptualizing an Igbo-themed educational program that engages students in cultural preservation.
