Nkata Ndi Iyom Igbo, in partnership with the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, has called for renewed efforts to revive the Igbo language, moral values and cultural heritage, warning that the erosion of these traditions poses a threat to the identity and future of the Igbo people.
The call was made during the Nkata Ndi Iyom Re-orientation on Igbo Cultural Values, held at the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Centre, Imo State University, Owerri, as part of the Igbo-Speaking Communities: Children, Youth & Women Moral Initiative Train-the-Trainers Capacity Development Programme 2026.
The programme brought together traditional rulers, educators, women leaders, youth mentors and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for preserving Igbo cultural identity and promoting value-based leadership.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned Igbo cultural enthusiast and public intellectual, Roz Ben Okagbue, stressed the need for Ndigbo across the world to preserve their language, customs and ethical values, describing them as the foundation of the people’s identity and long-term development.
Speaking on the theme, “Igbo Values and Ethos System: Our Heritage, Our Values, Our Future,” Okagbue said the Igbo forebears measured success not by material wealth but by character, integrity and service to society.
He said the traditional principles of “Ezi Afa Ka Ego” (a good name is better than riches) and “Egbe Belu, Ugo Belu” (live and let live) remain relevant guides for justice, peaceful coexistence and responsible living.
Okagbue described language as the soul of every people, warning that communities that abandon their language and traditions risk losing their identity.
He acknowledged the achievements of Igbo people in business, technology, education and commerce across the world but cautioned that economic success without strong moral and cultural foundations cannot endure.
The keynote speaker also expressed concern over what he described as a growing identity crisis among young people, citing the declining use of the Igbo language, the weakening of traditional apprenticeship structures such as the Igba-Boi system, and the increasing attraction to quick wealth.
According to him, the gradual abandonment of hard work, honesty and integrity threatens the moral fabric of Igbo society.
He urged parents, teachers, traditional institutions and community leaders to work together to transmit the Igbo language, culture and ethical values to younger generations.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze (SAN), declared the programme open and emphasised the importance of teaching children the Igbo language from an early age.
He described language as the strongest symbol of cultural identity, noting that any Igbo person who cannot speak the language or pass it on to the next generation risks losing touch with their heritage.