The inauguration of the His Royal Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Annual Public Lecture on Igbo Repository, hosted by Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating Igbo culture and history. The event, themed
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“The Onitsha Kingdom, its Origin and Place in Igbo Culture,” shed light on the significance of exploring key aspects of Igbo history and heritage.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti, represented at the event by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu, FNSE, lauded Onitsha as not merely a kingdom but a guardian of Igbo traditions that have profoundly influenced both the Igbo nation and Nigeria at large. He applauded the Obi of Onitsha for his exemplary leadership in preserving Igbo culture and emphasized the need for the documentation and celebration of Igbo heritage to safeguard its historical and cultural importance.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, voiced concerns about the potential extinction of the Igbo language by 2025, as predicted by UNESCO in 2012. He emphasized the establishment of the World Centre for Igbo Repository at the university as a vital initiative to safeguard various aspects of Igbo culture threatened by globalization.
In his lecture, His Royal Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe highlighted the importance of investigating the origins and ancestral connections of the Igbo, Yoruba, and Edo language groups in Nigeria. He underscored the need to study Onitsha’s culture and governance, including its traditional justice system, while urging the government to address the urban decline in Onitsha and its surrounding areas.
The event, which drew dignitaries and scholars, was a significant step in promoting Igbo culture, traditions, and values. A key moment was the laying of the foundation stone for the Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Dome, which will serve as the home of the World Centre for Igbo Repository, advancing efforts to preserve Igbo heritage.
Oluchi Okwuego
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