Speaking indigenous languages preserve Nigeria’s identity — Stakeholders

The Founder and Coordinator of the Igbo Language Project, Mrs. Comfort Ubosi, has called on various ethnic groups in the country to ensure they speak their languages with their children to help them grow up without losing their true identity.

According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, Ubosi made the call at the second edition of the Igbo Language Quiz Competition in

She added that parents and relevant stakeholders should ensure that Nigerian languages do not become extinct as a result of lack of use by it’s owners.

Ubosi added that the quiz competition was part of efforts to revive speaking of the Igbo Language, in addition to publication of the ‘Functional Igbo Series’ for students, which started as a personal effort to teach her own children the language.

Another stakeholder at the quiz competition and proprietor of S.T and T Regency International School, Ikeja, Dr. Maggi Ibru, expressed satisfaction at the initiative, and encouraged the promotion of speaking indigenous languages.

Loral International School, Agbara, emerged winner of the 2022 Igbo Language Quiz Competition, followed by Radiance School, Festac and St Jude’s School, Festac.

The Igbo Language Quiz Competition was named in honour of Professor Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche, a senior lecturer specialising in Igbo Education at the University of Lagos from where she retired as a professor.

She was a great enthusiast in keeping African languages alive, with special interest in Igbo Language.

According to the statement, the main objective of the Igbo Language Project’s collaboration with the Association of Igbo Language Teachers in Lagos State, is to ensure that the language does not die or become extinct and to devise ways and means of stimulating Igbo children to develop interest in learning to speak and write their mother tongue.