The Agunze Chib Ikokwu Foundation, has presented a Book “Learning about Ndigbo” to Anambra State Commissioner for Education Professor Ngozi Chuma-Ude.
The book showcases the multifaceted nature of Ndị Igbo, advancement of Core Igbo values and promotes culture and community relations.
The book unravels the sophistry behind the make-up of the Igbo people as defined in their knowledge of ancient metallurgy, their arts, language, music and musical instruments, festivities, traditional socio-political institutions and administration as it relates to the present.
It pictured pre-history of the Igbos, archaeology, their scientific knowledge, and knowledge in metallurgy and also deals with all the information gathered by the intelligence officers during the old colonial rule where Igbo people are widely dispersed leading to acculturation and loss of some of the pristine values enshrined in their culture.
The event which took place at the conference hall of the Ministry of Education at the Jerome Udeorji Secretariat Complex in Awka was attended by Professors, Associates Professors and various Directors of Departments in the State Ministry of Education, among others.
The Commissioner for Education, Professor Chuma-Udeh described the book as a masterpiece that examines the evolution, themes, and distinctive features of the Igbo language, the historical circumstances of Igbos, and commended the foundation for giving hope to Ndi Igbo for their unique enterprising, independent and adventurous nature.
The Education Commissioner further urged the Professors to look inwards in using their native language to write which she noted will hold an important foundational position in the history of Igbo language, adding that the book will be of interest to scholars of African literature, literary history, and Igbo studies.
In his speech, the Author of the Book and also the Founder of Agunze Chib Ikokwu Foundation, Chief Chibueze Nnemeka said that the foundation is focused on re-awakening and encouraging re-learning of Igbo values by the younger generation to uphold and reinforce the beauty and richness of Black African History, Culture and Civilization.
Chief Nnemeka said that the book presented different ethnic group in Nigeria for easy understanding of cosmology of Ndị Igbo that serves as basic rudiments for adaptation, charging the Igbos not to abandon the ancient Igbo dictum of “Aku luo ulo” while urging Ndi Igbo not to allow Igbo language, tradition, cultures among others to go into extinction.
On his part, the Editor of the book, Mr Chinedum Uchechukwu noted that the book was written in simple terms and English language to aid in easy understanding for students while explaining that the book took the foundation two years to produce four hundred and ninety-six pages and maintained that the work will also assist in bridging the inter-generational gap arising therefrom.
Chief Emmanuel Oniafor who said that the Igbos are one of the big trees holding on to oneness before the world war, frowned at the setbacks suffered by the Igbos cultural heritage which he lamented is gradually going into extinction while commending the author for his great concern towards Odimma Ndi Igbo.
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