INVEST HEAVILY IN DEVELOPING IGBO LANG STUDIES — PROF ONYEKAONWU BEGS SOUTH EAST GOVTS

REPORTER: NDU NWANNAH

An Emeritus Professor of Igbo Language, Godwin Onyekaonwu, has decried the poor attitude of the Igbo nation to the use of the language in public communication.

Professor Onyekaonwu, who was a lecturer at the former Anambra State College of Education, Awka, before retiring at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Awka.

He frowned upon the denigration of Igbo Language by some citizens from the South East region and other parts of Nigeria, stressing that no language was superior to the other in the global community.

Professor Onyekaonwu blamed the decline in the use of the language on some parents, who would prefer to teach their children in foreign languages while at home, to the detriment of their mother tongue.

The former university teacher, however, urged governments across the South East geopolitical zone to help in addressing the situation by investing heavily in the development of Igbo Language Studies.

Professor Onyekaonwu, who was notable for his work, “Nwata Rie Awo, Oju Anu” and other books, called for dedication of special fund to pay better remuneration to Igbo Language tutors across the nation.

This, according to the Emeritus Professor, would encourage youths to study the language as well as spur more academics to carry out research on how to further the growth of Igbo Language on the global stage.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU