Igbo Women Vow To Revive Igbo Language, Storm Awka For Mother Tongue Day
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has expressed deep concern over the growing disinterest in the Igbo language among younger generations, warning that the language’s extinction would irreparably damage Igbo identity and cultural heritage.
In a statement, IWA National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, revealed that a staggering 90% of Igbo children between the ages of 1-15 years old neither understand nor speak Igbo, prompting the organization to relocate the International Mother Tongue Day celebration from Lagos to the South-East.
“This is a wake-up call for all Igbo people, both at home and in the diaspora,” Lolo Chimezie emphasized. “We are not just fighting for the survival of our language, we are fighting for the preservation of our culture, our identity, and our very existence as a people.”
The celebration, scheduled for Saturday, will feature a symposium with lectures and panel discussions on preserving and promoting Igbo language and culture. IWA is calling on Igbo leaders, community presidents-general, opinion leaders, and stakeholders to participate in the event and show their support for the preservation of Igbo language and heritage.
Notable dignitaries expected at the event include Senator Azu Mbata, Professor Stella Okunna, and His Royal Majesty Eze Chukwuemeka Nri.
IWA traces the campaign for the survival of the Igbo language to late advocates F.C. Ogbalu, Professor Peter Ejiofor, and Professor Arinze Ubabunike, and emphasizes that language is a tool for unity and identity.
The organization commends Igbo families in China and the United States for promoting Igbo language and culture among their children, urging Ndigbo at home and in the diaspora to prioritize passing the language to the next generation.
“We must take responsibility for preserving our language and culture,” Lolo Chimezie stressed. “We must teach our children Igbo, speak Igbo in our homes, and promote Igbo language and culture in our communities. If we fail to do so, we risk losing our identity and our place in the world.”
The IWA National President called on Igbo leaders to make the preservation of Igbo language and culture a priority, and to take concrete steps to promote its use in all spheres of life.
The event in Awka is expected to draw large crowds and will feature cultural performances, exhibitions, and presentations on Igbo language and culture.
As the Igbo people come together to celebrate their language and culture, the message is clear: the preservation of Igbo language and heritage is a collective responsibility, and it requires immediate action.
