Ibibio must be taught in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom, says Udom

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom, has instructed that Ibibio language be included into the curriculum of all government-licensed secondary schools in the state.

Udom said this at the sixth inter-house sports competition of Tower of Ivory schools, Ediene Abak, on Monday.

“I am directing the ministry of education to ensure that Ibibio language is taught in all public secondary schools in the state beginning from the next academic session,” he said.

“Teaching of indigenous languages would help the younger generation appreciate their mother tongue and culture as against foreign languages.”

In October, the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly passed a resolution to make teaching and learning of native languages compulsory in public and private secondary schools.

The resolution was made as a result of a motion moved by Aniekan Uko, a member representing Ibesikpo Asutan constituency.

“I am concerned by the depreciation of interest in the speaking of our native languages at homes; and with the way they are handled in schools, our culture and identity are at the risk of extinction.

“If this trend is not checked, our culture, tradition and unity will be threatened and our languages may go extinct upon the death of the older folks.”

“I applaud the governor for giving out that directive. It shows that the governor is very interested and committed to ensuring that our native languages do not go into extinction,” he had said.