Why Pearville school is on a mission for sustenance of good Igbo cultural Heritages- Onukwugha

Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Recently, there have been global predictions that some good Igbo cultural and traditional heritages like language, new yam festival, moonlight play, traditional marriage rites, wrestling among others are on the verge of going into extinction, poised by this, Pearville International School, Avu in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State says they have instituted a road map towards the promotion and sustenance of the good cultural and traditional heritages of the ancient ethnic group.

Thus last weekend, the school at their massive but neatly landscaped playing field, entertained a litany of visitors that includes: parents, guardians, friends, associates and well-wishers to non-adulterated cultures of Igbo race exhibited by students of the school even as the road leading to the multi-million Naira academic institution is a death trap seriously begging for Imo State Government attention for immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction.

To the admiration of all, the students wore different traditional attires of the ethnic nationality as the school’s traditional ruler, HRH Eze Benedict Ekene Akamigbo( Ome nma of Pearlville), his “wife” (Ugoeze) and members of his cabinet were true ambassadors to the revered traditional institution.

It is a day to be remembered as beauty behold cultural fiesta promotion of Igbo race as enrooted in the programme christened “Pearlville Iriji Ohuru 2021”.

The people’s ancient cultural and traditional heritages were reawakened through cultural dances, folk songs, wrestling contests, traditional farming and trading programme among others.

In line with the programme theme, “Igbo Language Can Never Go Into Extinction” as envisioned by the school’s mission of the need to ensure the sustenance and promotion of good Igbo cultural and traditional heritage and to the delight of all, was in a flawless Igbo Language delivered by Rev. Fr. Monsignor Innocent Maduakolam Osuagwu, PhD.

Osuagwu who canvassed on the importance of culture and tradition in the life of the people applauded the school for her mission and vision of enhancing cultural and traditional renaissance especially of the Igbo race.

He equally advised parents to be wary of foreign cultures noting that culture and tradition as an embodiment of the people’s historical identity while insisting on good parental upbringing
as a mark of wisdom and patriotism.

According to him,” God is the architect of cultural and traditional heritages. People without cultural identity is as good as dead. Parents should be ambassadors of their cultural identities by speaking and encouraging their children to be proud in speaking their native languages and participating in their communities good cultural and traditional activities” he advised.

Similarly, Auxillary Bishop Rev. Fr. Moses Chikwe that represented His Lordship Archbishop Anthony Obinna of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese who was absent due to exigencies of duty reiterated that the Catholic Church understands the importance of school and education in the overall development of humanity and the nation at large.

Obinna commended the proprietor and management of the school for their vision and mission in establishing the school which he described as world-class and enjoined them not to relent in their efforts of laying a good foundation for the children to appreciate their ethnic groups cultural and traditional norms and values.

Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, the State Minister of Education who was represented by powerful delegations led by Mrs Patricia Odinaka, Deputy Director in Federal Ministry of Education, Owerri expressed regrets over the Honourable Minister’s inability to physically attend the occasion which she attributed to official circumstances beyond his control.

Nwajiuba said that the Ministry is appreciative of all the exploits the school are making towards enhancing teaching and learning recalling that in 2019, the school bagged a national honour as the Best Private School in Nigeria.

According to him” this is no mean feat and today you are on the vanguard of inculcating the children on the need to appreciate and promote their cultural norms and values by being proud of their good cultural and traditional heritages. This is commendable as you have made it part of the school’s annual calendar”.

Earlier, in her address of welcome Dr Mrs Pearl Onukwugha, the President of the ultra-modern school expressed happiness and satisfaction over the attendance and activities marking the annual cultural fiesta.

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Onukwugha informed that the school took the challenge of promoting, inculcating and sustaining Igbo good cultural and traditional heritages to shame the global devil’s advocates predicting the soonest extinction of the ethnic group’s good ancestral norms and values.

According to her “the cultural fiesta is an annual event of the school, compelled by modern-day Western culture enslavement. We are on the mission to ensure that Igbo cultural and traditional identities did not go into extinction as being predicted.

During the slave trade era, the cultures and traditions of the people were bastardized, abused and eroded by the slave masters. The people lost their identity, the moment they were denied their names and languages. As part of our strategies, we have made the speaking and learning of the Igbo language compulsory in our studies” she assured.

She made a passionate appeal to the Imo State Government, private individuals and corporate bodies on the need to assist the school and her host community in their efforts to address the deplorable conditions of their only major link road to Obosima – Avu express road.

Adding his voice, Barr. Uche Ohia, Imo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism who was one of the special guests of honour commended the school for being the state administration’s Share Prosperity and 3R mantra compliance especially as it concerns cultural exhibition and promotion.

Ohia assured the school management of the willingness of the government to partner with them in there dogged vision and mission of ensuring that Igbo Language, cultures and traditions did not go into extinction.

Considering the level of cultural and traditional extravaganza, two revered traditional rulers were there to give their stamps of authority, that is HRH Eze Gerald Ihekaibeya IV, Eze kwesiri of Umuma-Isiaku ancient dynasty and Chairman Ideato North and South LGA Council of Ndieze and HRH Eze George Agim, Erim 11 of Umuerim Nekede Autonomous Community in Owerri West LGA

Further more, High Chief Innocent Asoronye, Chairman Oha Avu in Council and Okenze Unigwe Felix, the Palace Secretary of Avu ancient kingdom were all there in their admirable traditional attires with there members and flutes praise singers.

It was praise galore when Dr Arch. Victor Onukwugha, the Chairman of the school announced an institutionalized annual award of 50,000 Naira made by Mr Emeka Nwaguma for the school’s Best Igbo Language Student even though the donor had earlier donated 500,000 Naira to assist in the rehabilitation of the School’s deplorable entrance route.

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