Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has approved academic bursaries for 200 students studying Igbo in universities across Nigeria. The initiative aims to encourage the study and development of the Igbo language and prevent it from going extinct.

The global publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ezechi Chukwu, disclosed this after a one-day retreat of the organisation’s Global Executive Committee and State Presidents, held at Ohanaeze’s secretariat, Enugu, on Wednesday.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Global Executive Committee and its youth wing passed a vote of confidence in John Azuta-Mbata’s leadership at the retreat.

Mr 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 the Igbo language. We are starting with about 200 students in various universities in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Chukwu said the initiative marked a milestone and deserved commendation because no previous leadership of the organisation had undertaken such a programme.

He said the retreat allowed the committee and state presidents to review the organisation’s achievements, identify strengths and weaknesses, 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 a half years of the present administration.

The deputy president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okey Nwadinobi, said the retreat enabled the organisation to examine its operations and identify areas requiring improvement.

Mr Nwadinobi described Mr 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, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the youth wing of the organisation had passed a vote of confidence in Mr Mbata’s leadership.

Mr Okpalaezeukwu attributed the vote of confidence to what he described as Mr 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.