By Chizoba Njaka
For decades, the preservation of the Igbo language and cultural heritage has remained a concern for scholars, cultural advocates and community leaders, particularly as migration and globalisation continue to reshape identities across generations. Yet, amid these challenges, individuals like Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji have continued to champion the cause of preserving the rich traditions of the Igbo people both at home and abroad.
It was in recognition of this unwavering commitment that the Centre for Igbo Language and Culture at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, honoured Dr. Aguoji during its maiden Cultural Day Festival. The award celebrated her remarkable contributions to humanity, education and the promotion of Igbo language and cultural heritage across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The colourful festival attracted academics, traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts and members of the public, all united by a common desire to safeguard the values, language and identity of the Igbo people.
Speaking during the event, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Christiana Ngozi Ikegwuonu, described the institution as a strategic intervention established barely six months ago to preserve, promote and project the language, customs and identity of the Igbo nation. She applauded the university management, particularly the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, for providing the platform that would inspire future generations to embrace their heritage.
Prof. Ikegwuonu lamented the growing decline in the use of the Igbo language among younger generations, especially children born in urban centres and the diaspora. According to her, increasing migration and exposure to other cultures have left many Igbo children unable to communicate fluently in their mother tongue. “Our language and culture define our identity. They tell the world who we are and where we come from. Parents must intentionally involve their children in the culture of their people because once the language is lost, identity is gradually lost as well,” she said.
She further appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to partner with the Centre in sustaining its programmes, assuring that outstanding contributors would be recognised through projects named in their honour. Receiving the award on behalf of Dr. Aguoji, her brother, Pst. Ikechukwu Ekunno, thanked the university for acknowledging her years of dedicated service to the Igbo nation.
He stressed that preserving the Igbo identity requires deliberate documentation of the language, history and traditions through books and educational resources. He noted that there is a renewed cultural awakening among Igbo communities abroad, with increasing demand for learning materials that help children born outside Nigeria reconnect with their ancestral roots.
Perhaps one of Dr. Aguoji’s most remarkable achievements remains her historic tenure as the first female President of the Council of Igbo States in the Americas (CISA). Under her leadership, the globally recognised CISA Festival of Arts and Culture returned to Nigeria for the first time after years of being hosted exclusively in the United States.
Hosted in her hometown of Abagana, the landmark event became more than a cultural festival. It symbolised the reunion of the global Igbo family with its ancestral homeland and demonstrated that cultural identity can thrive beyond geographical boundaries. Reflecting on that achievement, Dr. Aguoji described her vision as a mission to “bring this beacon back to source”, a dream realised through determination, collaboration and the support of CISA leaders, including Board Chairman Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Vice Chairman Onye Nze Amadiebube Mbama, Board Adviser Prof. Napoleon Onyechi and members of the Governing Council.
Held under the theme, “Oganiru Ifediche: Reconnecting Igbo Global Roots for Cultural Renaissance,” the festival reinforced the growing movement to strengthen ties between Igbo communities across the world and their homeland. As concerns continue to mount over the survival of indigenous languages, honours such as the one bestowed on Dr. Aguoji serve as a reminder that preserving culture requires more than words. It demands vision, sacrifice and unwavering commitment from individuals determined to ensure that future generations inherit not only a language, but also the identity, values and heritage that define the Igbo people.
Chizoba Njaka is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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