In a bold move to safeguard the Igbo language from the threat of extinction, the Abia State government has made the teaching of the language compulsory in all primary and post-primary institutions across the state. According to the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, Igbo will be taught from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary School 2 (SSS2).
Prince Kanu, who made this known during a press briefing in Umuahia on the outcome of the Abia State Executive Council meeting, explained that the initiative aims to ensure that children in the state are deeply grounded in their mother tongue.
“The Igbo language, which happens to be the identity of our people, has been made compulsory in our schools up to SS2 level. This is to make sure our children are grounded in their mother tongue,” Kanu stated. “It is hoped that the compulsory re-introduction of Igbo language will help drive the cultural and social revolution that this government is embarking upon.”
In addition to making Igbo language compulsory, the government has also re-introduced the teaching of History in both primary and secondary schools with immediate effect. Prince Kanu underscored the importance of History in preserving the cultural heritage and identity of the people.
“Any society that is interested in making progress must be deliberate about keeping its history. We believe Abia State has a rich historical background which we are proud of, and we intend to tell our children and succeeding generations our history,” he emphasized.
Massive Teachers’ Recruitment Exercise Underway
Providing an update on the state’s ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise, Prince Kanu revealed that 9,371 applicants have been shortlisted for the next phase of the process, which involves a computer-based test (CBT). The recruitment aims to hire 5,000 teachers to accommodate the increased student population resulting from the state’s free and compulsory education policy.
“The portal for the recruitment of teachers was shut down on February 12, 2025, and at the last count, about 29,797 applications were received. Out of this number, 9,371 applications were shortlisted,” Kanu disclosed.
He assured the public that the recruitment process would be transparent and merit-based, with successful candidates from the CBT proceeding to an oral interview before final selection.
ABIAFIRST Initiative to Transform Education
The Commissioner also announced that on February 26, 2025, Governor Alex Otti would unveil a major educational program titled “ABIAFIRST” under the theme, “Re-imagining Education in Abia: Unleashing the Potential of Every Abia Youth.”
Describing the initiative as a “visionary project,” Kanu stated that ABIAFIRST aims to revolutionize the state’s educational system and create world-class learning opportunities for every child in Abia.
Curriculum Overhaul to Reflect Igbo Heritage
Echoing Kanu’s sentiments, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, highlighted the state’s plans to revise the curriculum to better reflect Igbo historical facts. He noted that while History has been compulsory in the past, much of the content overlaps with Civic Education. The new curriculum, which has already been approved, will be implemented in the next academic year.
“One good thing is that the state has the right to adjust a curriculum as it suits us. So, we are going to rejig the curriculum to bring those historical facts for which we are known into the curriculum,” Ubochi explained. “A child who goes through secondary education will be able to know the basic history that makes Igbos very different from others.”
The press briefing also featured the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor; the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.