Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra Central) has called on all Igbos to work in strengthening the language and culture of the people.
Ekwunife made the call when received the Igbo-Ukwu Development Union and people from Anambra Central in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to her, this is to forestall the predicted extinction of the language.
She noted with dismay, UNESCO’s prediction that the Igbo language and culture might be extinct by 2025.
The legislator urged all stakeholders to work together to preserve the language and culture.
“Ndigbo both in Nigeria and in Diaspora need to promote and preserve the Igbo rich cultural heritage.
“But obsolete laws and actions against people and widows need to be jettisoned and totally eradicated.
“Ndigbo must continually review their cultures in line with modern realities as situations where a widow without a male child is unrecognised in the family of marriage must be stopped.
“Such laws should not be tolerated by any people,” she said.
She commended the people of Igbo-Ukwu, for having jettisoned such awful widowhood practices while calling on all Igbo communities to follow suit.
Ekwunife, therefore, called for concerted effort by state governments, traditional rulers, film makers of Igbo extraction, and indeed, all Igbo people to uphold the culture of the people.
She pledged to continue to support the people of Igbo-Ukwu in Anambra South even though she represented the people of Anambra Central where she was married to.
Earlier, Mr Uche Igwilo, Chairman of the Igbo-Ukwu Development Union, commended the senator for her magnanimous contribution to the people even though she represented a different constituency. (NAN)
