Igbo Wikimedia Fan Club Holds Training in Awka

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

A one-day workshop and training on how to create, edit, and publish contents in Igbo language on Wikipedia has come to a successful end, with call on Ndi Igbo to wake up and help build, improve and popularize their language.

Held in Awka, Anambra State capital, the training was organized by Igbo Wikimedia Fan Club, formed by Mrs Oby Ezeilo, a passionate Igbo language activist and Wikipedia editor.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of the Club, Mrs Ezeilo said she formed the group to improve and increase creation of more Igbo language contents on Wikipedia, by training Ndị Igbo on how to do so, with the primary aim of sustaining and popularising Igbo language, both locally and globally, as well as for onward development of online Igbo dictionary.

She also explained that the initiative and the training will help to protect Igbo language from going extinct, as was predicted by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisations, UNESCO, who said the language will go extinct in the nearest future.
 
While calling on Ndị Igbo to help save and contribute to the growth of their language, Mrs Ezeilo also advised the participants at the training to keep practicing all they were taught.

She said, "We have taught you, all you need to do is to continue creating and adding more contents from time to time, so as to grow and preserve Igbo language."

She further assured that the training, which is free and open to all, will be hosted on monthly basis for more consistent impacts and outcome.

On her own part, one of the facilitators of the training and lecturer in the Department of Igbo Language, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mrs Edith Nwobu  further explained that the training was aimed at teaching and guiding the participants on how to contribute to Wikipedia, by way of editing, creating, translating and publishing articles or other contents, with special focus on Igbo language contents.

While appreciating the participants, she expressed optimism that the initiative and the training will go a long way to strengthen and preserve the ailing Igbo language if well maximized; even as she advised the participants to constantly practice what they were taught.

In a remark, one of the participants, in the training and student of Igbo Language Department, Prince Uche Ezeabasịlị appreciated the organizers for such wonderful opportunity, testified that he learnt many things, and promised to keep practicing and utilizing it for the overall well-being and improvement of Igbo Language.