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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Imo State Government has charged the Igbo to be proud of their culture and language, regretting that the Igbo always feel ashamed of speaking their language.
The state Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Jerry Egemba, who stated this during the BYAN Black Month Celebration yesterday in Owerri, the Imo state capital, noted that the current generation of Igbo are not proud of their cultural heritage, including their mother tongue, which is Igbo language and that the parents must do more to teach their wards the language which is their identity.
“This Black History Month celebration is not just about the past, it is about who we are and where we are going. It is about embracing our identity, telling our own stories and building a future, where our culture and values remain strong and respected globally.
“To the Blazing Youngsters and Achievers Network ( BYAN), I commend your relentless dedication to youth development and cultural preservation. Your efforts at organising this celebration in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality reflect a shared vision of preserving our heritage while equipping the next generation for greatness.
“As a government, we will continue to support initiatives that uplift our youths, promote our cultural heritage and position Imo State as a hub for creativity, talent and tourism.
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However, what I have seen today shows that parents must do more to teach their children the Igbo language as majority of the students who participated in the question and answer on Igbo did not have a full grasp of the language, which shows that parents are not proud of speaking the language to their children, and if this trend continues, it means that the Igbo language is endangered,” Egemba said. Also, Chairman of the event and Commissioner for Homeland Security, Modestus Osakwe, in his terse remark, commended the organisers of the event.
He said: “It is difficult to talk about a people without history. When history was removed from the secondary school curriculum, I was taken aback because it is through history that we learn who we are, which includes the culture, value and traditions of the people. And cultural values, including our language, are transmitted from generation to generation. So, when I saw blazing youngsters as organisers, it spurred me to accept to be here today and I am not disappointed from what I have seen.”
Speaking earlier, the President of BYAN, Mrs Adanna Abatan, said the event was a re-affirmation of “our identity, tribute to the towering achievements of our icons and renewal of our collective commitment of preserving the legacies that define us as a people.”
Represented by Prince Chima Uchenna Okoro, Mr Abatan said: “The glories of our past are woven with resilience, courage and brilliance; qualities that continue to inspire generations. Our mission is to empower the youths, inspire the next generation of achievers and promote the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and successful roles, like Onyeka Onwenu, Dr K O Mbadiwe, Chioma Ajunwa and several others. The BYAN is committed to bridging the gap between young minds.”
The high points of the event are cultural dances, drama sketches and Igbo language proverbs translation competition by students of various secondary schools.
