Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has charged the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Abia State chapter to take proactive steps in propagating and preserving the Igbo culture.
Gov. Otti who gave the charge when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Umuahia, emphasized the need to promote Igbo language in schools across the state, pointing out that it was the reason why his administration made Igbo language a compulsory subject in both Basic and Secondary schools.
In his words, “A community without a firm grasp of its cultural identity risks extinction. Many Igbo youths have deviated from the core values of hard work and integrity, and indulged in fraudulent activities in pursuit of quick wealth.”
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, stressed the need for a well-defined roadmap to guide the organization’s objectives and encouraged Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo to establish strong youth wings in schools to foster cultural awareness and leadership development among young Igbos.
He also urged the organization to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations, ensuring that Igbo heritage remains a guiding principle for future generations.
“It is good that one of your cardinal policies is to propagate Igbo culture. His Excellency, being a visionary leader, has recognized the need to reintroduce the Igbo language in our various schools because a people who abandon their culture and traditions will soon become extinct. Our people must know who we are, what we have gone through, and how we have arrived where we are today,”.
“We have a history behind what we do, and culture is central to any form of development. The Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo of today must begin to address this critical challenge. We are a people who value hard work. We are industrious, creative, and intelligent. We do not beg for survival that is not our culture. This present Ohanaeze must sit down and envision the kind of Igbo society we want to build,”. he said.
In their speeches, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Planning, Dr Eric Egwuibe and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Chief Nwaka Inem, reiterated the importance of accountability and strategic planning in the operations of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.
In his address, the state President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu, commended Governor Alex Otti for his developmental strides and commitment towards the advancement of the State, noting that the Governor’s decision in making Igbo language compulsory in schools aligns with their mission to promote Igbo culture and heritage.
Dr. Okwuonu said they intend to mobilize town unions and traditional institutions across local government areas in the state to strengthen Igbo unity and cultural preservation, and solicited government support to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
In a vote of thanks, the state Woman Leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Deaconess Ijeoma Okere, appreciated the governor for the warm reception accorded them and pledged their support to the present administration in the state.
