Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, has called for the production of indigenous cartoons to teach children their mother tongues and cultures.
Nebo made the call at the inauguration of the committees to develop Igbo Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka on Friday.
The inauguration was organised by the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo) in collaboration with NAU, with the theme – ‘OCHIE Igbo STEM Project: Securing today, defining tomorrow’.
According to him, the best way to capture the minds of children is to start having cartoons in indigenous language as It will easily introduce the Igbo language to them at a tender age.
He also urged parents to speak and teach their children their mother tongue, to help them easily assimilate concepts and become knowledgeable.
“The family is the child’s first school where the mother tongue is used as a medium of instruction to help the child think, act and relate with his immediate environment.
“We must commend the OCHIE Igbo for championing this project. The Igbo STEM curriculum will help our children understand the concepts of basic sciences, mathematics and engineering easily.
“OCHIE Igbo STEM education should start from the basics – the primary and secondary schools and then; tertiary Institution, to catch them young and for it to be organic and sustainable.
“In India, they use their mother tongue to teach from basics and the English language is only introduced at class five, which is why today, India is one of the world’s revolutionists.
“We can fast track technological and industrial revolution in our nation if we use our mother tongue as the language of instruction and evaluation for STEM education,” he said.
Nebo also a former Minister of Power, urged south east Governors’ Forum to fund the OCHIE Igbo STEM project and make it their legacy.
He also urged state governments to set employment tests and interviews in mother tongue as it would spur people to learn their indigenous languages.
“We should not let our language die, if it dies, our culture dies and if our culture dies, our civilization will be wiped out; then we are done for as a people. May this not be our story,” Nebo said.
In his address, Prof. Charles Esimone Vice-Chancellor NAU, lamented the relegation of the mother tongue as English was the spoken language in most homes and prestige schools.
According to Esimone, the trend must be arrested otherwise the attempt to make Igbo the language of instruction for STEM or other subjects would be of no value.
In his remarks, Dr Chukwuma Orji, National President, OCHIE Igbo, said the aim of the foundation was to project programmes that would promote and preserve the culture and identity of the Igbo nation.
In his welcome address, Mr Okoro Chinedum, Executive Director, OCHIE Igbo STEM project, said the project was purely academic research to sought home-grown and indigenous development in the country.
The programme featured inauguration of the Igbo STEM committees by Prof Frederick Eze, a representative of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the unveiling of the STEMPedia to be adapted by the committee.
