In order to promote Igbo language, the Catholic Church of Nigeria, Aba Diocese has organized a competition tagged Ekeremgba Akpauche for schools under the Catholic Diocese of Aba.
Speaking during the grand finale of Ekeremgbere Akpauche held at Christ the King Church, CKC Cathedral Aba, Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu said that “the new Abia is interested in the revival of Igbo language by trying to see how we will make Igbo language compulsory in the Curriculum”.
He said that this will help to sharpen the Igbo language in the minds of the young ones.
According to him, as the main language for trade and commerce in the five Eastern states, Igbo language should be sustained and developed.
He called for attitudinal change towards the language by young Igbo people, especially those born outside Igbo speaking state and in the Diaspora.
Engr. Emetu lauded the Catholic Diocese of Aba and other organizations towards the revitalization and revival of Igbo language and enjoined parents and guardians to endeavour to use the language productively.
In his speech, the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Echema, appreciated the Deputy Governor for gracing the grand finale which saw St Paul Secondary School Aba Ukwu and St Mary Major College Abayi Ariana Aba, slug it out.
He said that the event was packaged to promote and uplift the Igbo culture and tradition.
He enjoined the Igbos to think of how to build the Igbo language and humanity instead of doing the opposite.
Earlier in his speech, the Ekeremgba Akpauche event initiator, Rev. Fr. Onyinye Anaeto, who studied in Austria and Germany respectively and has traveled to the different parts of the world, disclosed how other countries visited, cherish their language and use it to do exploits but decried that such is not obtainable in the Southeast region of Nigeria.
