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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Efforts to preserve and promote Igbo language and culture received a major boost, yesterday, as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide rolled out key initiatives, including the award of professorial chairs valued at N2.5 million each, and the launch of a technology-driven scholarship scheme for youths.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at securing the future of Igbo identity in the face of globalisation and urban migration.
He stressed that the event went beyond ceremony, representing a deliberate effort to revive Igbo language, history, and cultural consciousness.
“We are here to celebrate our heritage and invest in its future. This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that Igbo language and culture not only survive, but thrive for generations to come,” he said.
Azuta-Mbata warned that reports suggesting the Igbo language is endangered should serve as a wake-up call for urgent and collective action.
He commended members of the Professorial Endowment Chair/Selection Committee, led by Prof. Damian Opata, for what he described as a transparent and merit-based process that produced outstanding scholars committed to advancing Igbo studies.
In a major highlight of the event, he announced the launch of the “Ohanaeze PG Scholarship,” which will sponsor 100 Igbo youths to study coding, artificial intelligence and other technology-driven courses in various universities, with plans to increase the number to 200.
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“This will be self-sponsored by me and I believe this will encourage more positive actions from our leaders, businessmen, and other technocrats across Igboland,” Azuta-Mbata said.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Professorial Chair, Prof. Damian Opata, described the initiative as timely and visionary, pledging sustained efforts to promote Igbo language and culture.
“We will continue to work tirelessly for the Igbo nation to ensure our language does not go into extinction,” he said.
Also speaking, elder statesman and scholar, Prof. Elo Amucheazi, said the initiative marked a significant milestone in the promotion of Igbo studies globally.
“This is no small feat. We have made plenty of efforts to establish Igbo schools in the UK, the United States and now Canada, and these show that the language has a global footprint. Igbo will not die,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze, echoed similar sentiments, noting that collective commitment is crucial to preserving the language, while expressing concern over what he described as inadequate support from religious institutions.
One of the beneficiaries, Prof. Mbah, expressed appreciation to Ohanaeze for the recognition, describing the award as both surprising and motivating.
“We are committed to fulfilling the objectives of this chair. The process was fair, inclusive, and evenly distributed across states. We will not disappoint,” he said.
