The newly formed executive members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a pan Igbo socio-cultural organization, Enugu State Chapter has called for the enactment of laws making Igbo language compulsory in all primary and secondary schools in the state.
The group is also advocating for a law compelling every civil servant in the state to put on native wears on Fridays in order to showcase the true Igbo culture.
Ohaneze said these were aimed at sustaining the cultures of Ndigbo.
The Ohanaeze Exco led by the new chairman, Chief Eric Ebeh who called on the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly at the legislative chamber of the House, Thursday, urged the Assembly to enact these laws for the sustenance of the Igbo race.
The Ohanaeze chieftains equally called on the House to enact a law mandating members of the House to use Igbo language to conduct the business of the House at least four times in a month.
The group also used the opportunity to solicit the help of the House to enable them inaugurate their new exco.
They lamented that Enugu Ohanaeze had no utility vehicle bearing the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as obtained in the other four states in the South East. In his reply, Hon. Eugene Odoh, the speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly told the committee members that they had already started implementing some of the requests.
He said this was visible in the area of enforcing Igbo language to be taught in schools within the state.
Hon. Odoh pointed out that already “the House members most of the time come to the Hallowed Chambers in cultural dress”, even as they conduct their business in Igbo language including writing down the proceeding of the House in Igbo language.
Odo also stated that Enugu House had done so much for the promotion of Igbo culture by setting up a trophy for winners of Igbo language, as competition in Igbo language by schools in the state will come up in April this year. He disclosed their readiness to help Ohaneze, saying that Enugu was not so poor that she would not give to her citizens what they desire.
Comments