Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has approved academic bursaries for 200 students studying Igbo language in various universities across Nigeria.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging the study and development of Igbo language and preventing the language from going into extinction.
The Global Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after a one-day retreat of the organisation’s Global Executive Committee and State Presidents, held at Ohanaeze’ Secretariat, Enugu on Wednesday.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Global Executive Committee and its youth wing passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Mbata at the retreat.
Chukwu described the bursary scheme as a flagship initiative of the present leadership, saying it was unprecedented in the history of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“The President-General today declared that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is going to give bursaries to students in tertiary institutions for the development of Igbo language.
“We are starting with about 200 students in various universities in Nigeria,” he said.
The global publicity secretary said the initiative represented a significant milestone and deserved commendation because no previous leadership of the organisation had undertaken such a programme.
He said the retreat provided an opportunity for the Global Executive Committee and state presidents to review the organisation’s achievements, identify areas of strength and weakness and develop strategies for improved performance.
“Today, we had an in-house constructive conversation by the Global Executive Committee in conjunction with our state presidents, alternatively called the expanded EXCO of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“The essence of this in-house dialogue was to identify how far we have gone as a team, our areas of weaknesses and strengths, review our milestones and set targets.
“We also sought to define new methods and methodologies that could strengthen the organisation and enable us to achieve our desired end as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation,” he said.
According to him, the organisation had achieved about 70 per cent of its set targets within the past one and half years of the present administration.
On the leadership of the President-General, Sen. Azuta Mbata, Chukwu said the leadership had performed exceptionally well, describing his scorecard as “summa cum laude”, meaning “With highest honour”.
Also speaking, the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Okey Nwadinobi, said the retreat enabled the organisation to examine its operations and identify areas requiring improvement.
“Our desire is to continue to achieve incremental progress as we move on,” he said.
Nwadinobi described Mbata as a great leader with considerable experience, extensive networks and a good understanding of Nigeria’s challenges and how the Igbo should respond to them.
He said the organisation was gradually addressing important issues affecting Ndigbo, adding that the results of its efforts were beginning to emerge.
Meanwhile, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra Chapter, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the youth wing of the organisation had passed a vote of confidence in Mbata’s leadership.
Okpalaezeukwu attributed the vote of confidence to what he described as Mbata’s “unmatched, unprecedented and exceptional leadership qualities” and achievements.
He particularly commended the establishment of a professorial chair for Igbo language and culture, saying it would help protect Igbo identity and address concerns over the possible extinction of the language and culture (NAN)
