ACSS Umuohama Holds ‘Itu Ilu Igbo’ Competition in Ukpor

The saying that Igbo language is on the verge of extinction is no longer going to hold water as Igbo language is still waxing stronger. At Assumption Comprehensive Secondary School (ACSS) Umuohama Ukpor Nnewi South Local Government Area, the school recently organized an ‘Itu Ilu Igbo’, Igbo proverb competition for the students of the school.

The competition has 23 contestants who were shortlisted but at the end eight scaled through the final. The contestants showed their prowess and versatility in Igbo proverbs as each where given 30 seconds to come up with proverb that no other contestant has said before.
At the end, over 600 different proverbs were recited by the finalists with each of them citing not less than 60 proverbs. A 14 year old S.S.2 student, Master Okwuchukwu Jachike emerged winner being able to recite more than 70 different Igbo proverbs to top the list.

Speaking with the principal of the school, Rev, Fr. Callistus Nwosu said that the school is committed to promoting Igbo culture and tradition.
He stress that the school wanted to bring out the best student in Igbo proverbs and to also promote the use of Igbo proverbs among the students.
According to Rev. Fr. Nwosu, “we arranged the competition “Itu Ilu Igbo” to know the best among our students that has been grounded when it comes to speaking Igbo proverbs and to the greater glory of God about 23 students participated, 8 reached finals and one person, Master Jachike Okwuchukwu emerged winner.

He has indeed shown that he is a genius when it comes to Igbo proverbs, he noted.”
The priest also thanked the sponsor of the programme Mazi Okwu Okwu praying that God will bless him more. He further noted that it is also important to inculcate into the students the importance of Igbo culture.

He disclosed that recently the students made an excursion to Anambra State Museum Igbo Ukwu where they saw all those historical architects they heard about and weree shown architects that dated back to more than 100 decades ago.
Also speaking the founder of Ilulogy School Mazi Okwu Okwu commended the schools on their skill in Igbo proverbs. He described Ilulogy as the study of Ilu Igbo expressed happiness on the event adding that the Igbo teachers in the school are doing a good job.

Mazi Okwu Okwu noted that his soul reason for sponsoring the programme is to re-awaken the idea of language revival and cultural renaissance among the young generation. He promised to make the programme an annual event while advising Ndi Igbo to go back to their root. “I must admit that Igbo people are not doing well when it comes to speaking their mother tongue especially to their children rather they prefer the use of a foreign language which is English.

The Igbo teacher in the school Mr. Simon Emejulu Mbanefo feeling elected on the whole event advised the students against the use of Engligbo which is a mixture of English and Igbo while speaking.
In his take the winner, Master Okwuchukwu thanked God for the success. He attributed it to his assudioness of studying Igbo books and literatures.

Master Okwuchukwu in S. S. 1 the winner went home with the cash prize of five thousand naira (N5,000), the second position Master Chiemerie Ukporjendu in J.S.S2 got three thousand naira, while Udeagbara Chukwuka in S.S.2 got home with two thousand naira (N2000) while the reaming five went home with one thousand naira each.

In continuation of the career/cultural week of the school they also held a skilled acquisitions this is in her bid to make the students to be self-reliant and independent.
During the programme, the students were taught such skills as how to make different types of pies, fish pie, meat pie etc, other snacks taught included buns, egg roll etc. They were also taught how to cut hair etc.
Speaking with the principal of the school during the event, Rev. Fr. Callistus Nwosu noted that the acquisition programme is geared towards equipping the students to be able to face challenges of life especially as not all will be opportune to get a white collar jobs after school.
According to him, “it is very vital that every child at least should learn one skill that he will use to collaborate his or her academic achievements and that is why once in a while we organize a skill acquisition programme that will give the students the opportunity to learn certain skills
“the students are taught how to make meat pie, fish pie, egg roll, custard, and liquid soap. we invited people well grounded in barbers and plaiting hair to teach them also. These are ways they can be self reliant and and be useful to the society when they finish their academic pursuit. Seasoned semtresses will be invited also to teach them how to make dresses. With all these skills, we believe they will become better citizens in future and would fit into challenges of the world outside school. If each and every one of them can master one or two skill they will be productive in future”, he noted.
The principal revealed that the programme will be a continuous process so that the students will perfect in it. “It will be a kind of reinforcement so that by the time someone in J.S.S.I keep on learning it by the time the person will be in S.S.3 he or she must have mastered it.”
Speaking with Rev Fr Nwosu on the success, the priest noted, “ we thank God for the programme, in fact after that programme I have been receiving feedbacks from my students. Many came to me happily saying, Father, when I got home I tried to make clustared, meat pie and all these things we have been taught what remains is to perfect on it and I am happy they are learning.” He advised the student to continue to remain focus in their studies which is the primary thing they are being sent to school. “Make the wise choice and do not also forget to have one skill that you can be proud off and can use in their life.”
Some of the students who expressed their view included an S.S.2 student Master Akubude Samuel Ikechukwu noted that he learnt how to make meat pie and egg roll. He thanked the principal Rev. Fr. Nwosu for the opportunity adding no other school in the area has done that for her students “am grateful to God on that, he noted.
Also the Gloria Akharia S.S.2 also thanked God for all she has learnt. She noted that the programme is equipping them for the future and thanked the management of the school for it.