BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

Last week’s public presentation and launch of an Audio Project on Igbo Character and Values by Ndigbo Ethics Revival Forum(NEREF) in collaboration with Ndigbo Lagos indeed, created an avenue for reflection on reasons why the once focused, organised and hardworking Igbo people of Nigeria fell from the height of their grace.

The event which witnessed massive turn out of prominent Igbo sons and daughters took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs(NIIA) last week. The event provided a platform , where the admired and vanishing Igbo cherished socio-cultural values as epitomised in hard work, no die spirit and creative cum imaginative character were re- assessed for possible revivals.

While previous efforts by groups or individuals at reviving the integrity of the Igbo may not have yielded much results, NEREF’s music option appears more creative, attractive and effective in arousing the consciousness of the Igbo on the urgent need to redeeming their image.

The six track CD with titles such as obuzikwa unu bu Igbo ndieji emeonu mgbe gboo?(Are you not same Igbo people used to be praised, admired and emulated?), Chukwu ekwekwala ka Igbo gbara-aka laa, ( God should not to allow the Igbo short change themselves or to be short changed by their neighbours) and Lagos lady, document the life, journey and experiences of the Igbo in Nigeria.

The audio project which was compiled for elevated minds who possess abilities to interpret and decode the messages, is the first phase while the second phase, the video is hoped to involve a lot of visits, interviews, discussions and sensitisation of people to seeing the importance of going back to those values that made them what and who they were.

Speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the occasion, former Minister for information, Dr Walter Ofonagoro who seized the opportunity of the lunch to make positive political statements on the just concluded 2011 general elections, strongly averred that there was need for parents to imbibe cultural background of the Igbo Nation in their young ones.

On his part, the chairman of the apex Igbo organisation, Ohaneze, Chief Ralph Uweche who is not comfortable with the way the speaking of Igbo language is gradually going into extinct especially on the part of the youths, charged Igbo parents to as a matter of urgency, teach their children Igbo language, norms and values,pointing out that if nothing was done about that in the next 100 years, the Igbo language would go into oblivion.

Presenting his paper titled: “Random Thoughts on Igbo Character and Values” under three major headings; Who are the Igbos, Is culture static or Dynamic? And Specific issues in Igbo Character and Values, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, Prof. Ben Akabueze in the mind boggling presentation, which hopefully will stimulate further dialogue on the subject matter, stated that the Igbo race, one of Africa’s largest ethnic groups is regrettably known to live and invest outside traditional Igbo land.

According to him, the core values of the Igbos, which include prudence, justice, solidarity, self-worth, family pride, integrity, bravery, hard-work and communal aspiration are progressively being jettisoned rather than being reinforced adding that greed, opportunism, falsehood and ostentation seem to increasingly characterise the modern Igbo.

“Materialism is a cankerworm that is eating away all that is good in the Igbo Value system. Traditionally, the Igbos put a premium on knowledge and competence but today, the stereotypical Igbo man is a wealthy illiterate.” He lamented.

Highlights of the occasion includes the presentation of awards to a total of sixteen individuals who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding character and efforts at championing the course of the Igbo people. Some of the recipients were; Christopher Eze, Ndubuisi Kalu, Chidi Amaegbu (Chisco)MFR, Igwe Nnaemake Achebe, Raymond Obieri, Ralph Uwaeche and Dim Emeka Ojukwu.Also, post humous awards were given to Michael Okpara, Akanu Ibiam, Sam Mbakwe and Nnamdi Azikiwe.