It is Our Hope That Igbo Language be Celebrated in Africa - Prof Okafor

There is a belief common among Igbo's that their language may go into extinction by the increase in their use of English.
   Prof. Fidelis Okafor, the
Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University (COOU), has called for the
establishment of film villages in the South
East Zone to
ensure preservation of Igbo
cultural values.
Okafor made the call at a cultural carnival
organised at the Igbariam campus of the
institution on Friday.
The vice chancellor said that the film villages
if established would also create avenue to
entertain people on folklores and tales as well
as present Igbo values to the world.
``The Igbo language, instead of gaining
communication grounds in the hierarchy of
languages, is currently moving downwards.
``If the South East governments support the
film villages, the promotion of the Igbo
culture, language and values, which are on
the decline, will be preserved,” Okafor said.
According to him, the institution decided that
Igbo language will be used for official
communication every Wednesday.
He explained that the cultural carnival was a
yearly affair of the institution aimed at
promoting Igbo language and culture.
``The institution has a comprehensive
programme to produce quality graduates that
can stand the test of time in their various
disciplines.
``It is our hope that the Igbo language will be
one of the celebrated languages in Africa,”
Okafor said.
In his remarks, former Vice Chancellor of
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Pita
Ejiofor, urged students of the institution to
blend their academic pursuits with the good
morals of Igbo culture.
He said the UNESCO Advisory Committee on
Language Pluralism and Multi-language
Education had predicted that Igbo language
and culture may become extinct.
The don said the language and cultural values
may become subsumed under other stronger
Nigerian languages by 2025 if nothing was
done.
``Therefore, all hands must be on deck to
save the Igbo language from going into
extinction,” Ejiofor said.
Ejiofor is also the founder of `` Otu Suwakwa
Igbo,’’ a body founded to preserve the Igbo
language and cultural values.
Highlights of the occasion were cultural
performances and mgba (wrestling
competition), among other activities.