Stakeholders push for laws to stop Igbo language from dying

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By Madu Obi

The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), a socio-political group, and other prominent Igbo stakeholders have called for the strengthening of laws that would promote the use of Igbo language to stop it from dying.

At an event to mark the United Nations Mother Tongue Day 2026 in Awka, the group argued that doing so would revitalize the language

The IWA event was organized in collaboration with the Council of Igbo States in America (CISA) and Ohaneze Ndigbo.

National President of IWA, Mrs Nneka Chimezie, who lamented that the Igbo language is gradually dying because a huge percentage of the younger generation is unable to speak it, suggested that something must be done to change the situation.

She said: "Death of a language occurs in stages. Our language, which is Igbo, is at the second to the last stage of extinction. This is because 80 percent of the generation that will take over from us today does not know how to speak or write Igbo language.

Our language is now like a dying child in our hands. Worst is that we have discovered that those based in Igbo land also do not know how to speak Igbo, but prefer to use English in their day-to-day activities. This is pure evidence that the language is phasing out.

"It is clear that individual and group efforts alone cannot save our language; we need a collective and enforceable approach.

Since 2020, IWA has been at the forefront of promoting Igbo language through various programmes, but our impact remains limited.

We need to enforce the use of our language. We call on stakeholders in leadership positions- town unions, church leaders, traditional rulers, women groups, schools, and government agencies- to rise to the occasion. These institutions must make and enforce laws that strengthen the use of our language.

"We must all understand that Igbo language is our identity. If we allow it to die, we lose more than words. We will lose our heritage, our unity, our geographic identity, and the one thing that binds us as a people".

According to her, no region thrives without its language, adding that for a tribe to lose its language is to lose who they are.

The traditional ruler of Ifitedunu Community, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, in his remarks, called for a collective effort to promote the Igbo language.

"Many tribes are currently losing their languages and ours was predicted to phase out in 50 years from now. We must strive to save our language from dying and encourage its use in our homes and learning centers," he said.

Chairman, Anambra State Town Union Council, ASTUC, Sir Vincent Dike, maintained that promotion of Igbo language and culture is a duty that is binding on all Igbo sons and daughters and promised to partner IWA and other interested associations to champion the promotion of Igbo language and ensure it is sustained all over the world.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Anambra State, Comrade Donatus Onyenji, expressed the state government's commitment to promoting Igbo language and culture, citing Governor Soludo's assurance to rebuild Igbo core values, which include speaking Igbo.

He encouraged citizens to speak Igbo to their children and assured that the state government will work with the group to advance Igbo culture and language.