The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has disclosed his plan to float a

radio station that would broadcast its programmes majorly in Igbo Language.

He made the disclosure on Wednesday in Awka during a public event organised by an Igbo cultural society known as Otu suwakwa Igbo headed by former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Pita Ejiofor.

The governor said that the radio station would stand as his contribution toward preventing Igbo Language from going into extinction.

Obiano expressed dismay at the way the language is fading out, blaming parents for their inability to teach and encourage their children to embrace Igbo Language and culture.

The governor stressed that henceforth, pupils in the state would wear Igbo traditional attire to school every Wednesday.

According to him, folklore will be taught to primary school pupils every Wednesday

evening.

He maintained that the Igbo folklore he learnt while growing up had helped in shaping his behaviour and guided his relationship with other people till date.

“Igbo folklore is powerful in building morals and values. I can’t forget my late primary school teacher and the way he used Igbo folklore to teach us great lessons. Even as a governor, those stories about the tortoise and other animals still guide my life,” the governor stated.

He further assured the Igbo cultural society that the state government would strengthen the law that would make it mandatory for all to communicate in Igbo language and wear traditional attire on Wednesdays.

On his part, the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),

Chief Victor Umeh, described language and religion as the true identities of a people.

He urged people of Igbo extraction not to allow the language to die as predicted.

He said: “For me, I have Igbo odour and I smell Igbo; my red cap is my joy as an Igbo man.”

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Stella Onuorah, the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, appealed to the Igbo in the Diaspora to strive to teach their children the language and inculcate in them the cultural values and norms so as to help sustain the language and its culture.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.

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