Gov pledges promotion of Igbo language, culture in Abia

Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has said that his administration is ready to partner Igbo Women Assembly in promoting the Igbo language and rich cultural heritage of the Ndigbo.

This was against the prediction that the Igbo language would soon go into extinction.

The governor pledged that he would do all he could to avoid that prediction coming to pass in the state.

Otti, who stated this during the 2025 United Nations’ International Mother’s Tongue Day, with the theme ‘Igbo Language and Culture: A Treasure Worth Preserving,’ organized by IWA in conjunction with Alaigbo, held in Umuahia, regretted the negligence of Igbo language in society and described it as the only identity of Igbo nation.

Represented by the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr Matthew Ekwuruibe, Governor Otti stressed the need for Igbo people to embrace their rich cultural heritage and values, pointing out that the present administration is working with traditional rulers to revive the hidden and untapped cultural heritage of the people, including new yam celebration.

He said his administration will establish language and cultural week, debates and competitions in the state, as well as look into how traditional rulers operate to ensure they conform to their mother tongue and tradition, adding, “All are guilty of not making our children speak Igbo. The government also want to ensure that every traditional ruler celebrates the new yam festival to enthrone culture.”

He also called for concerted efforts to ensure that the language does not go into extinction as predicted by the UN.

He enthused “Government will not abandon culture and Abia cultural heritages Iike the long juju of Arochukwu and the Azumini blue river, among others. We have a lot to do to uplift our language.”

He urged mothers to speak their mother tongue to their children while fathers should encourage that, as “charity begins at home.”

The governor objected to requests that special schools on the mother tongue should be established, stating that instead, he will strengthen existing schools to teach and encourage Igbo language, and its teachers.

In her address, the wife of the governor, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghaukwa, and the wife of the immediate past deputy governor, Mrs Vivian Ude Okochukwu encouraged book authors to come up with books written in Igbo language, while the chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Linus Ntoh Mba, represented by Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, described the event as a call to action for parents to inculcate Igbo language in their children at early age.

Speaking, the chairman on the occasion, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa commended the IWA President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie for organizing the program to recognize the importance of the Igbo language, values and rich cultural heritage of the people, lamenting, “We started getting it wrong from the family” where even parents don’t use Igbo Bible to do their morning prayers with their children.”

He added that laying the foundation at that family level will help the child to be intelligent, up to the university level.

He urged the state government and all Igbo-speaking states to map out periods in each month when the Igbo language should be spoken in workplaces in each state.

In her address, the IWA  President, Lolo Chimezie enjoined Ndi Igbo to cherish their language, tradition, and value and jettison the act of patronizing other people’s language as well as ensure the language does not go into extinction, noting that living abroad contributes to Igbos losing their culture and language, even as foreign countries do all to protect their culture.

She lamented, “We have thrown away our God-given language and adopted foreign languages of countries we are better than.”

She charged Ndigbo that “for the Igbo language not to die in the next 10 years, the language must be preserved,” even as she blamed mothers for being responsible, noting that mothers are always with their children between the ages of three months and three years. She urged governments across the Igbo states to establish special schools for the teaching of Igbo language and culture.

In their remarks,  Prof Chukwu Okolo, Prof Nkechinyere Ohaike, Chief Okeosisi Harbor and immediate past acting Executive Director of National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Dr Godwin Asumugha urged all to join hands and save Igbo culture and language as well as contribute to the development of the nation.

The event, which featured round table discussion from notable Igbo personalities and cultural displays, also had in attendance the Abia State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, among other top government officials.