Since the emergence of the Senator Azuta Mbata-led new Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership, many stakeholders have expressed optimism that the administration would bring new ideas to consolidate on the achievements of its predecessors towards achieving the Igbo agenda.

In addition to galvanizing Ndigbo to have strong voice and presence in national affairs, Ohaneze Ndigbo should help in fostering unity among its members to pool together and move in the same direction. Ohaneze is also expected to work closely with traditional rulers and other Igbo leaders to protect and promote Igbo cultural values and general way of living.

Culture remains the hallmark of self-identity and social integration. This is why the increasing neglect, disdain and deprecating approach of some Ndigbo towards their cultural heritage have become a source of worry.

The present trend of cultivating the speaking of English language as status symbol and mark of achievement has pervaded many Igbo families and encourage many parents to first teach their children English language even before they could understand the rudiment of the mother tongue and encourage siblings to converse in English language even among themselves.

That is why in many homes  illiterate parents and grandparents always struggle to interact with their children and grandchildren in English Language with obvious difficulties.

Similarly, the authorities and teachers of most nursery and primary schools place emphasis on teaching English language without corresponding orientation in Igbo language. As a result, children can fluently recite speeches in English language but cannot respond to the simplest mode of greeting in Igbo language.

No language is superior to another and the best language for an individual or group at any particular point in time or circumstance is one that allows the source and receiver to share ideas and understand themselves better. So speaking English language or any foreign language in a place where  mother tongue will serve  better is a manifest of low self esteem.

Perhaps the worst hit is Igbo traditional food. Today many Igbo girls and married women cannot effectively combine traditional recipes in cooking dishes. Some cook with a catalogue of recipes beside them and still could not deliver a meal while some would send money to their grandmother to prepare such dishes for their husbands.

Some  popular Igbo names have either been discarded or bastardized to sound like foreign names.

Time has now come for Ohaneze Ndigbo and other traditional Igbo Institutions to champion the campaign to restore and revitalize those rich cultural and social values that distinguish Ndigbo from other people.

The use of other languages at the gathering of Ndigbo should be banned out rightly with heavy penalties for offenders. Ohaneze should also organize regular Igbo festival of Arts and Culture at zonal, state and community levels, to enable Igbos appreciate the beauty of Igbo cultural values and traditional heritage and save the race from suffering the fate of  endangered species.

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