Ohaneze advocates for use of mother tongue in Nigerian schools
By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka
The President General Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has called on various leaders, politicians, and captains of industries to support and promote the use of mother tongue in Nigerian schools.
He made the call during the inauguration of the committees of Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo) for the development of curriculum for in schools in South Eastern Nigeria.
Speaking during the inauguration at ASUU secretariat in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State over the weekend, Chief Iwuanyanwu, who was represented by Professor Fred Eze, President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State, lauded the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo) STEM project and urged the members of the various committees to work collectively to promote national interest.
“Mother tongue is the parents’ tongue, which is the first language a child will speak and will help them play the roles assigned them. A person’s mother tongue is often deeply intertwined with their cultural identity and heritage. It reflects the traditions, values, customs, and history of a particular community or region. It is important for educators and policymakers to recognize the relevance of mother tongue and embrace it.”
Presenting the keynote address on: “The Potentials of mainstreaming Igbo as the language of instruction and Evaluation for STEM in Igboland,” Professor Chinedu Ositadimma Nebo, former Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka called on south east governors to make the language a test-run for those seeking government work in the region.
He also urged all Universities in South East region to make Igbo Language compulsory for students.
He noted that it will also take off on a virtual note targeting to enroll Igbo kids from all parts of the world. “This way, the educational barriers and challenges associated with learning sciences in our primary and secondary schools would be a thing of the past.”
The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Charles Esimon, said, “I have the pleasure to inform you that the University has granted approval to partner with Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo) for the development of Education Curriculum, where Igbo Language will be the medium of instruction and evaluation for Basic Sciences.
“The task which OCHIE Igbo and the Department of Curriculum and Methodology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, have set about: teaching Igbo children basic sciences in Igbo Language, anchored on the premise that children learn better when the language of instruction is in the mother tongue.”
While commending the OCHIE Igbo foundation for initiating the ideas, Prof Esimone stated that the programme will help promote the use of mother tongue in modern technology.
The Executive Director of OCHIE Igbo STEM School, Okoro Chinedum Benedict, who delivered a speech titled , “OCHIE Igbo STEM project: The Horse Has Bolted,” and appreciated Unizik for the partnership said, “For decades, our children have had to contend with the abstraction and difficulty associated with comprehending and discerning the realm of scientific enquiry in foreign language.The resultant effect is the natural dissonance and disillusionment occasioned by the inability of the teacher to situate science subjects within the value and cultural bounds and environmental reality that the child relates with.
“Being that our science curriculum is focused more on students that excelled through the exams, with little or no attention to those that have to contend with these obvious lapses, those who have greater potentials in practical knowledge and technical know – how and perhaps would have become better scientists, unfortunately become victims.”
The Executive Director further reiterated the fact that the existing science curriculum creates students that think in their second language other than the mother tongue is tragedy of monumental proportion.
Mr. Chinedum Okoro who also disclosed that the OCHIE Igbo STEM project is a 500 million project , called for courage and unism among citizens.
On his part, the national president of OCHIE Igbo,Dr Chukwuma Ogugua Orji urged the committee members to tackle the assignment diligently.
