Gov Soludo’s Wife Says Everyone Will Be Held Accountable If Igbo Language Goes Into Extinction

Anambra Governor’s Wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo has called for a new approach to campaigns to save the Igbo language from fading away permanently.

Mrs Soludo who stated this in Awka, said that with the language still badly endangered, everyone must take responsibility to see that the most significant aspect of Igbo culture is not thrown away.

While stating that everyone would be held accountable if the Igbo language goes into extinction, the governor’s wife urged families, schools, religious places, communities, the government and other critical stakeholders, to be at the vanguard of reviving the revered mother tongue, insisting that if every stakeholder can show sincerity to the urgent task, the imminent danger could be averted.

She singled out parents and guardians who demean the language in the presence of their children and wards, urging them to understand that communicating with their children in their mother tongue comes with great pride.

Mrs Soludo also said that while government must revisit or come up with stricter language support policies in public and private offices and schools, schools on the other hand should see teaching and learning of the mother tongue as a compulsory academic activity that must be followed up intensely.

The governor’s wife further called on everyone, especially parents, to show more urgency to the campaign, with the understanding that a child’s first step to learning is their language orientation.

She hailed the efforts of advocacy groups and individuals who had already taken up the responsibility for the Igbo language campaign but called for a larger circle of advocates to get the message far.

With the Igbo language being one of the many tribal languages that UNESCO predicted in 2012 could become extinct by 2025 if nothing is done to check their fast declining use, Mrs Soludo said she is worried about the lukewarm approach to the revelation by all stakeholders just over three years to the deadline, but pledged to continue to stand in the front of the advocacy to save the language.