Chief Fidelis Osita Nweke, Ugwumba Ugbene, Ịde Awka North, Chief Executive Officer Wire-Teks International Company Limited.
In 2012 United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) predicted that by 2025 Igbo language might go into extinction due to majorly lack of emphasis on Igbo language studies, limited use in official communication, parents not teaching children Igbo at home. Many parents are not passing on the language to their children, opting for more widely spoken languages instead. Some schools may even punish students for speaking Igbo, further discouraging its use.
However some organizations and well meaning individuals are aimed at debunking the UNESCO prediction and preserving Igbo heritage.
Many Ndị-Ịgbo and organizations are working to preserve the language and culture, with some initiatives like Nzụkọ-Ndị-Ịgbo Radio Programme Limited, a total Ịgbo Language content programme on Radio for the promotion of Ịgbo language, culture and folklores that project sound morals of Ndi-Igbo.
Nzuko-Ndị-Igbo Radio Programme Limited is encouraging parents to teach their children Igbo at home and promoting its use in community settings.
It is on the premise of debunking the UNESCO predictions that Chief Fidelis Nweke sponsors Ịgbo language academy on Radio themed; 2025 EDITION OF CHIEF FIDELIS NWEKE ỊSỌỌ MPỊ AJỤJỤ ỌNỤ N’ASỤSỤ ỊGBO) ON THE ANAMBRA STATE BROADCASTING SERVICE, AWKA (ABS), FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES IN AWKA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.
In an exclusive interview with Chief Fidelis Nweke, Ịde Awka North on his passion for the promotion of Ịgbo language and culture especially for teenagers and the upcoming youths, he opined.
“When we were growing in our rural communities, we were fond of speaking our Ịgbo language, through our parents then. If you witness presently the Igbo language that is our heritage is waning. It’s incumbent on us the adults to preserve and project our heritage which is Ịgbo Language and culture”.
Chief Fidelis Nweke who is the Chief Executive Officer of Wire-Teks Int’l Company Limited expressed thus; “The place of language in any human endeavor can not be replaced by anything because of the central nature of language in human history”.
Language according to him is a form of expression which is generally conceived as an arbitrary set of codes used for communication, and language is the most dynamic component of culture, hence his sponsorship of the Ịgbo language academy quiz competition.
Chief Fidelis Nweke, a passionate philanthropist acknowledged that the language academy is expected to be an annual school quiz competition. He admonished well meaning organizations and individuals to be part of promoting and imbibing the Ịgbo language and culture in young ones.
On the expectations of Ịgbo language academy quiz competition on radio, Ugwumba Ugbene said “it will be on record that my sponsored Ịgbo language academy on radio will provide teenagers and youths from Awka North in particular and Ndị-Ịgbo in general the opportunity to think home and retract back to our roots.
The 2025 EDITION OF CHIEF FIDELIS NWEKE ỊSỌỌ MPỊ AJỤJỤ ỌNỤ N’ASỤSỤ ỊGBO) ON THE ANAMBRA STATE BROADCASTING SERVICE, AWKA (ABS), FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES IN AWKA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT Area is expected to commence on Tuesday, 24th June, 2025.
