The Enugu State Government says it will henceforth organise regular quiz competitions among nursery, primary and post-primary school pupils and students to promote Igbo language, culture and tradition in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, said this during the commemoration of the 2024 International Mother Language Day held in Enugu on Wednesday.

The commemoration was organised by Igbo Efula and the Centre for (Igbo) Memories.

Mrs Madueke said that the ministry would also go ahead to print Igbo calendars to promote the language and tradition.

She said, “A calendar that will have the four market days and the normal seven ranges of four market days that make up the 28 days in Igbo calendar. It will be made of more informative and educational pictures and write-ups on Igbo language and culture for our children to learn.’’

The commissioner said that the ministry would also use other platforms and programmes within its limited resources to keep promoting Igbo language and culture within social gatherings and public places.

“I must commend the organisers of this event as well as everyone working hard to promote Igbo language, culture and tradition within the state,” she added.

In a goodwill message, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said that the organisation had put in place mechanism to ensure every child of Igbo extraction not just understood Igbo language, but could read, write, tell Igbo proverbs and idioms.

Mr Iwuanyanwu, who was represented by Chief Alex Ogbonna, appreciated the organisers, adding that the organisation would continue to support groups and foundations that promote Igbo language and culture within and outside Nigeria.

Founder of Alaigbo Development Foundation, Prof. Uzodinma Nwala tasked families, Igbo-based institutions and communities to start early to teach Igbo language and carry along children and wards in all aspects of Igbo culture, tradition and civilisation.

Mr Nwala, an emeritus professor of philosophy, noted that the event was apt and a veritable one to ensure that Igbo language, culture, tradition and civilisation would never go extinct.

Earlier, Coordinator of Igbo Efula, Bismarck Oji, encouraged mothers to be at the fore-front of teaching Igbo language at home, adding that it should start while the child is in the womb.

Mr Oji said that it had become critical as mothers and women spend more time with children at home, adding that they should focus on speaking Igbo language and ensure that children clearly understood the language from the cradle.

Highpoints of the event included: award to three personalities that have promoted Igbo language in Enugu State; competition among secondary school pupils on Igbo spelling and proverbs as well as entertainment by Igbo Dance Academy.

(NAN)