Rt Hon Engr Uche Callistus Ugwu, Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly has commended Igbo Efula, an organization for the promotion of Igbo language for their noteworthy efforts towards the promotion of Igbo language.
The lawmaker made the statement while speaking during an event organized by Igbo Efula in Enugu on Friday, 14th March, 2025, in commemoration of International Mother Language Day 2025.
“I commend Igbo Efula for their noteworthy efforts towards the promotion of Igbo language.That is why I had to attend personally despite my tight schedule. We all have a duty to teach our children (the next generation of Ndigbo), the Igbo language. Therefore, I’m glad to see Secondary School students participating here today”.
He also expressed his support and that of the Enugu State House of Assembly to all efforts aimed at promoting the language. Thereafter, he presented the cup to Queens School, Enugu who emerged champions of this year’s International Mother Language Day Igbo Proverbs competition. May Blossom Secondary School, Enugu and City Girls Secondary School, Enugu were first and second runners up respectively.
Earlier in his opening address, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji,MNSE, COREN, President, Igbo Efula, explained the reason for shifting the date of the event marked on 21st February annually
“The event was shifted to 14th March since Secondary School students who are the focus of this year’s celebration were on Mid Term break by 21st February. We took this decision so as to “catch them young”. Our adolescents are the future of our language. Therefore, more emphasis must be placed on getting them to realize why they must speak Igbo fluently, without compulsion. That is the essence of the Secondary School Students Igbo Proverbs competition
Going further, he urged the Government and other stakeholders to support the Igbo language industry, as the surest way of promoting Igbo language,
“According to experts, the surest way of promoting Igbo language is by promoting the Igbo language industry, by supporting all those who earn a living through Igbo language such as Nollywood artistes, Igbo language teachers, Igbo language authors, journalists, etc. Logically, it is their business to promote Igbo language and the growth of their business is symbiotically linked to the growth of the language”
In her welcome speech, Lolo Nkeoma Lilian Agbo, Chairperson of the event’s organizing committee expressed her gratitude to all those who found time to attend the event, urging mothers to teach their children Igbo language at home, to ensure the language’s preservation.
In her speech, the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke commended the organizers of the event for steadily working for the promotion of Igbo language,
“I commend the organizers of this event, Igbo Efula, for steadily working for the promotion of Igbo language.
“We all have a duty in ensuring that Igbo language grows and flourishes, rather than going extinct. However, our parents have a big duty in ensuring that their children learn to speak Igbo from their homes”.
In his own speech, the chairman of the event, Okpala Eze Nri Chukwuemeka Onyesoh(Oba Agbalanze) had this to say:
“I sincerely commend the organizers of this event -Igbo Efula and I urge all of us to take up the task of ensuring the promotion of Igbo language.
“I equally urge Igbo Efula to explore ways of working together with other organizations that equally have the goal of promoting Igbo language”
In his speech, HRM Igwe Ambassador L.O.C. Agubuzu, OON, CFR, former chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers/Chairman, Board of Trustees, Igbo Efula, expressed his appreciation to all the dignitaries who honoured the organizer’s invitation.
He urged them all to support Igbo Efula to ensure that their lofty and onerous task of reviving and promoting Igbo language was achieved.
Equally, HRM Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu (Ogadagidi), Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council commended the President, Igbo Efula, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, for his untiring efforts towards the promotion of Igbo language. He equally pledged the support of traditional rulers in the state in that regard.
Other dignitaries at the event include Hon Okey Mba, member representing Nkanu East constituency/Deputy Minority Whip, Enugu State House of Assembly, Pharm. Chika Ugwuoke, Enugu State Commissioner for Labour & Productivity, represented by Mrs Ifeyinwa Nnaji, Agbalanze Chike Madueke, President, Aka Ikenga, Lagos, Prof Eddy Ndibuagu, Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu and Mazi ‘Zulu Ofoelue, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Enugu chapter.
Highlights of the event include the launching of a sticker in promotion of Igbo language, musical performance by Bukas,an Igbo language artiste, Secondary School Students Igbo Proverbs Competition, a dramatic presenation on the importance of kolanut in Igbo culture by pupils of Fresh Grace Montessori School, Enugu.
Also, there were cultural displays by Fresh Grace Montessori School, Enugu, May Blossom Secondary School, Enugu and City Girls Secondary School, Enugu. Others schools in attendance include College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu and Day Secondary School, Independence Layout, Enugu and Queens School, Enugu.
