Aniekan Uko blames parents for not speaking Ibibio at home with children * As AKHA makes teaching of indigenous language in schools compulsory

The Akwa Ibom State  House of Assembly has passed a resolution that henceforth teaching of indigenous language in all public and private schools should be compulsory in Akwa Ibom State.  

In a motion brought before the House on Thursday by the member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Hon. Aniekan Uko which attracted positive reactions and comments from lawmakers described the motion as quite apt and timely which they said will help in promoting local languages in Akwa Ibom State. 

Presenting the motion with a caption ‘A MOTION ON THE NEED TO MAKE THE TEACHING OF OUR NATIVE LANGUAGES COMPULSORY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKWA IBON STATE’ before the House, the Ibesikpo Asutan lawmaker maintained that there is no gainsaying the fact that recently, there has been gradual depreciation of interest into the speaking of our native language specifically within the younger generation.

According to Aniekan Uko, “It has become so bad that if drastic measures or steps are not taken, in no distant time our native language will go into extinction with the passing away of the older ones. The situation is worsened by the fact that our native language is no longer taught in schools” He lamented.

Hon. Uko, who is the chairman, House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges said our language is the primary way of preserving and transmitting our culture and identity but lamented the inability of parents in coming to the realization. Hear him “The negligence is so serious that even we as parents are guilty and this can cause us the danger of being the last speakers of our native language if not meticulously guided.”

The lawmaker, who noted that language remains an important means in the preservation and transmission of one’s culture and identity, said he was worried that our indigenous languages were almost going extinct, saying unlike in the past, primary and secondary schools, especially private schools nowadays no longer teach native languages, fearing that they may have expunged them from their curriculum.

Speaking further the lawmaker chided parents for attributing the blame to modernization and urbanization because according to him, Chinese and Japan despite being the world champions of modernization are still holding tenaciously to their language thereby giving it, its pride of place.

“We have sold ourselves into slavery. Those that are not even educated force themselves in speaking English even to the detriment of those very close to them. For me, it is high time our native language be introduced into our school curriculum” he urged.

The Ibesikpo Asutan lawmaker maintained that the child’s first language is critical to his or her identity and that encouraging this language will help the child to value his culture and heritage which will contribute to a positive self concept .

He however appeal to EARCOM to launch an intensive campaign to bring back our language. Aniekan Uko blamed parents for not encouraging their children to speak our native languages by communicating with them in our native languages at home.

Uko in conclusion however came up with three prayers on the motion for the house to pass a resolution which were: to direct the state Ministry of Education to reintroduce native languages as subject in the school curriculum, direct both publication and private schools to make native languages compulsory subjects for student especially from primary to junior secondary classes as well as urge parents to encourage their children to speak our native languages by communicating with them in our native languages at home.

The speaker, .Hon.Onofiok Luke in his respond thanked the mover of the motion, Elder Aniekan Uko and a resolution granting the three prayers was unanimously upheld by the house while the clerk was mandated by the speaker to communicate accordingly to relevant authorities. 

The House directed both public and private schools to make native languages compulsory subjects for student especially from primary to junior secondary classes. 

In their contribution, members who commended the sponsor of the motion for bringing up the matter, said they were disturbed that if the trend is allowed to continue, the culture, tradition and values of the people of the state and the unity of the people of the state may be threatened if urgent measures are not taken to arrest the trend.