By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
Anambra Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji has called on Ndi Igbo across the world to promote the Igbo Language, values and culture in their respective areas of residence.
Commissioner Onyenji told the people to teach their children the language, values and culture of the Igbos, noting that it is the pride and identity of the Igbo people.
The commissioner made this call at the 11th Chief F.C. Ogbalu Memorial Lecture themed, “Security and Nigerian’s Economy: Reflection from the Igbo Land,” at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Auditorium, Awka.
He noted that Chief Ogbalu was a renowned Igbo scholar whose goals and achievements was to promote the Igbo language, values and culture through the means of writing Igbo literature textbooks.
“His literature textbooks are full of wisdom, proverbial, great work and background of the Igbo people which portraits the uniqueness of the Igbo cultures, values and traditions.”
“I am glad that our people who live outside the state are enrolling their children here to learn and speak the Igbo language,” he said.
The University Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Charles Esimone added that the memorial lecture organized in the honour of Chief Ogbalu was not only to remember his efforts and achievements in promoting the Igbo language and culture but also to sustain and showcase it to the world.
“Chief F. C Ogbalu did not read the Igbo language at the University but Economics; it was the passion he had for the language that prompted him to write all his literature textbooks in the Igbo language.”
“He is not the first person to write in the Igbo language but his works were distinct and exceptional and in 1949, he became famous through his brainchild – The Society for Promoting Igbo Language and Culture.’
The VC thanked the former VC, Prof. Peter Ejiofor, an Igbo language advocate for his efforts in ensuring that the Unizik senate adopted the memorial lecture for Chief Ogbalu in 2000 when he was in office.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Greg Obiamalu, welcomed everyone to the event while noting that the memorial lecture was to reminicize on the great works, efforts and achievements of Chief Ogbalu in promoting the Igbo language and culture.
Prof. Obiamalu said that it was through the efforts of Chief Ogbalu that the Igbo language was infused into the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and taught in the Universities and Colleges of Education.
“He devoted his time and resources to champion this course and today the Igbo language is among the 3 major languages in Nigeria.”
In her lecture, Prof. Nkechinyere Nwokoye, a lecturer at the Department of Igbo African and Communication Studies observed that some Igbo indigenes have thrown away the Igbo language, culture and their names.
She said that some have adopted a foreign name, language and culture.
She called on them to be proud of their root, language, name, culture and traditions, noting that some white Americans have started emulating the Igbo way of dressing and culture.
“We, the Igbos are blessed with wisdom, strength, hard work, right thinking and riches and we have notable trades such as farming, fishing, blacksmithing, palm wine tapping, trading, hunting, weaving and among others.”
She called on every Igbo sons and daughters to come home to invest and partake in the building of the Igbo land, government, and to create more tourist sites which would attract tourists into the state to boost its economy.
