The call to embrace craftsmanship was made during the celebration of Igbo Language and Culture cum Crafts exhibition at the Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS), Onitsha.
Speaking during the event, the Principal, AGGS Onitsha, Lady Maureen Anyaenetu described acquisition of various skills early in life as part of Igbo culture urging parents, guardians and teachers to ensure that school children engage in learning and practicing of different forms of crafts because of the numerous benefits in craftsmanship.
“There are no white collar jobs available. Earnings are never enough to meet numerous needs in the family but a student who acquire different forms of skills can contribute in putting food on the table and equally assist in sponsoring himself or himself through to University education.
“Government has changed the curriculum of education from Primary to Junior Second School Education. 35 skills have been included in the Secondary School curriculum while 15 skills have been included in the primary school curriculum.
“In AGGS Onitsha here we teach fishery, bead and bag making, pastry making, soap, perfume,hair making and many other skills so that a child will not be a liability.
“Culture is the people’s way of life. Culture includes the religion, values, language, forms of greeting, fashion, cuisine, crafts which defines the strength of a community, tribe or nation. Youths must endeavor to uphold their culture which is transferred from generation to generation to avoid it from going extinct.
“The essence of celebrating Igbo language, culture and crafts exhibition today in this school is to instill good virtues and expunge vices in our children. We want our students to have practical knowledge and understanding of Igbo culture which they ought to uphold as our identity,” said Lady Anyaenetu.
Zonal Director Education, Post Primary Secondary School Commission ZDE, PPSSC Onitsha, Mrs Mary Eziamaka Umennadi while speaking said Igbo cultural values which includes craftsmanship is eroding. Before, Igbo people were not known for okeite, Yahoo plus but dignity in Labour.
“Today, you hardly find good auto mechanics or carpenters that is why 2025 primary to Junior Secondary School curriculum contains 15 skills a child should acquire some before finishing Secondary School. Parents should desist from buying smart phones for secondary school students but support their children in learning basic skills and crafts,” said Mrs Umennadi.
The President of All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Anambra State, Mrs Bibian Onwuka decried the ways both married and unmarried young adults have been adopting negative acculturation at the expense of Igbe cultural values.
‘Sagging, crazy hairdo, going bra and pantless is now the order of the day. The government introduced this program as part of educating our youths on the good aspects of our rich cultural heritage”.
The Protem Chairman of the event and former Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Emeka Anyaenetu noted that although promotion of Igbo culture is necessary but that would not stop cultural diffusion which includes adopting good aspects of other people’s culture into the Igbo culture.
Anyaenetu said that both the preparation and actual cultural day celebration has exposed the children to another form of education to know their roots.
The Mother of the Day, Dr Lady Ngozi Agbasimalo, a Member Anambra State Education Advisory Council to the Governor commended the AGGS Onitsha school management for joining the advocacy to promote Igbo Language and Culture.
“Prof Peter Ejiofor did so much at tetiary education to promote Igbo Language speaking. Former Anambra State Governors like Peter Obi made Igbo language compulsory for all primary and secondary schools in Anambra and sponsored some students who majored in Igbo Language up to University education.
Willie Obiano also made it statutory in all schools, government offices that every Wednesday must be for Igbo speaking and cultural dressing in the state,” said Dr. Agbasimalo.
In their separate speeches, the Principal of Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha,Ven. Chigozie Anaeto and Ven. Kperechukwu Nwankwo Archdeacon, Nkpor New Covenant Archdeaconry refuted the general belief that Igbo culture is evil but rather posits that what the church or Jesus Christ is against were those traditional, idol worship and fetish practices that were inhuman, against the word of God or bias to female gender.
