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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John c, has raised concern over the declining use of the Igbo language, warning that it could slide into extinction if immediate and collective steps are not taken to revive it.
Azuta-Mbata gave the warning at the 2026 Igbo Efula Mother Tongue Day celebration, held in Enugu, where he described the language as the soul and identity of the Igbo people.
“Today, we gather to reaffirm our commitment to preserving our beautiful language, culture, and heritage. Igbo is our identity and pride. But, today, it is at risk of extinction. We must act now,” he declared.
Represented at the event by the Enugu State President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Uche Obisi, the Ohanaeze leader urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to be deliberate about speaking and teaching Igbo to younger generations.
“As leaders and custodians of our culture, we must ensure Igbo thrives. Let us speak it, teach it, write books in it, create content in it, and pass it on to our children,” he added.
The event was organised by Igbo Efula, a civil society group dedicated to promoting Igbo language and culture, as part of activities marking the International Mother Language Day observed globally every February 21.
Representing the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, the member representing Oji River State Constituency, Osita Eze, described the programme as both timely and necessary.
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“The programme, today, is a wonderful one. Any tribe or country that loses her mother tongue is lost forever,” Eze said, lamenting that many Igbo families no longer speak the language at home.
He described the trend as disturbing and warned that without urgent correction, Igbo could disappear in the near future. He called on families to begin revival efforts from their homes by speaking Igbo to their children, while schools, churches, and government institutions should also promote its use, particularly at foundational levels of education.
Eze further disclosed that discussions were ongoing at the legislative level to strengthen policies that would encourage the use of Igbo in public institutions. Chairman of the occasion, Professor Obiamaka Eriobuna Opara of Abia State University, Uturu, expressed deep concern over what she described as a growing inferiority complex among educated parents who prefer English to Igbo.
She lamented that even her own grandchildren do not speak the language fluently, calling the development painful and alarming. She said language remains the strongest vehicle for transmitting culture and tradition from one generation to another.
President of Igbo Efula, Mazi Birsmack Oji, explained that the event aligns with the global celebration of International Mother Language Day aimed at promoting linguistic diversity and cultural preservation.
He noted that 12 secondary schools participated in various competitions including music, dance, proverbs, and written contests. Queens School Enugu emerged overall winner for the second consecutive year.
One of the standout participants, Etidong Bassey of Queens School Enugu, expressed pride in showcasing her knowledge of the language, reinforcing the collective resolve at the event that the Igbo language must not be allowed to fade into history.
