PROBLEMS FACED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING IGBO LANGUAGE AND CULTURE–SPILC: LESSONS FOR THE PRESENT AND FUTURE PERIODS OF IGBO STUDY
Many people have questioned the curiosity of scholars in identifying the problems face by the Igbo language. They fail to understand that knowing your problems will help you grab the best solution and resolving the issues. Without knowing the exact spot the rain began beating you, you'd never know where you get your body dried. Others said many works have been written about SPILC. Yes, people don't know much about SPILC. The generation I appeared in does not know much or care less about their language, the efforts made by the past scholars to give us a befitting identity. Such ones I am writing to, to revive them from the state of unconsciousness and sub-consciousness to consciousness. SPILC did well to give us a place in a linguistic palace. Without SPILC, I wouldn't have had this opportunity to talk. Without SPILC, I wouldn't have study my course in the university. Without SPILC, my books wouldn't have been approved by the South East Ministries of Education for schools for the propagation of knowledge and preserving our language, culture, literature and arts. Yes I have every reason to speak about SPILC.
Just like every other imperfect establishment established by imperfect human faces problems, SPILC was faced with severe problems. Such problems I am writing down here so that this present and future generation could learn the pros and con of the past. They are:
1. FINANCIAL PROBLEM:
Bigger dreams of SPILC which include: Building of the Institutes, the Standard Igbo Dictionary production, the organization of refresher courses and others were hindered due to the financial constraint. Most of the committees stopped functioning due to lack of money. Members of these committees at their expense provided for themselves accommodation, feeding and transport for the sake of Igbo.
Just like every other imperfect establishment established by imperfect human faces problems, SPILC was faced with severe problems. Such problems I am writing down here so that this present and future generation could learn the pros and con of the past. They are:
1. FINANCIAL PROBLEM:
Bigger dreams of SPILC which include: Building of the Institutes, the Standard Igbo Dictionary production, the organization of refresher courses and others were hindered due to the financial constraint. Most of the committees stopped functioning due to lack of money. Members of these committees at their expense provided for themselves accommodation, feeding and transport for the sake of Igbo.
2. LACK OF DOCUMENTATION:
It is true that SPILC was famous with tremendous achievements, yet not much had been documented about SPILC from 1949 till now. The active role it played on the orthographic reforms in the fifties was not credited to it. It is so lugubrious.
It is true that SPILC was famous with tremendous achievements, yet not much had been documented about SPILC from 1949 till now. The active role it played on the orthographic reforms in the fifties was not credited to it. It is so lugubrious.
3. LOSS OF RECORDS:
The Nigeria-Biafra war seriously blew dangerous air into the nostrils of SPILC. Its constitution and other important documents since 1950 were lost untraceable. It was after the war in 1970 that the Society started afresh. So sad! Agha nyụrụ anyị ịkpakwụ.
The Nigeria-Biafra war seriously blew dangerous air into the nostrils of SPILC. Its constitution and other important documents since 1950 were lost untraceable. It was after the war in 1970 that the Society started afresh. So sad! Agha nyụrụ anyị ịkpakwụ.
4. TIME FACTOR:
Members of the SPILC are full-time workers in different fields of human endeavour therefore they find it so hard to attend SPILC meetings. But when it started, members sacrificed all they were doing and attend; not just attending but participating. But later long, it becomes a problem.
Members of the SPILC are full-time workers in different fields of human endeavour therefore they find it so hard to attend SPILC meetings. But when it started, members sacrificed all they were doing and attend; not just attending but participating. But later long, it becomes a problem.
5. INDIFFERENCE AND LACK OF CO-OPERATION:
Very many people who would have contributed so well to the development of Igbo saw it as Ọgbalụ's personal business. They began to fight and oppose him either personally, politically, or academically. They turned their backs eventually at SPILC.
These people alienated themselves from anything Igbo and did not want to hear it mentioned. They stood from behind fighting Ọgbalụ, SPILC and the societal objectives.
These and very many others were problems of SPILC. We can draw a lesson for our future dealings in Igbo studies.
Very many people who would have contributed so well to the development of Igbo saw it as Ọgbalụ's personal business. They began to fight and oppose him either personally, politically, or academically. They turned their backs eventually at SPILC.
These people alienated themselves from anything Igbo and did not want to hear it mentioned. They stood from behind fighting Ọgbalụ, SPILC and the societal objectives.
These and very many others were problems of SPILC. We can draw a lesson for our future dealings in Igbo studies.
Okoro Mark Ogbonnaya (Maazi Ogbonnaya)
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