Aguoji bags COOU Award for outstanding promotion of Igbo Heritage in Diaspora

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

Centre for Igbo Language and Culture at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, has honoured renowned educationist and cultural ambassador, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to humanity, education and the promotion of Igbo language and culture across Nigeria and the global diaspora.

The prestigious award was presented during the Centre’s maiden Cultural Day Festival, a colourful celebration of Igbo heritage that attracted academics, traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts, students and members of the public.

Speaking at the event, the Director of the Centre for Igbo Language and Culture, Professor Christiana Ngozi Ikegwuonu, described the six-month-old Centre as a strategic initiative established to preserve, promote and project the rich language, traditions, hospitality, values and cultural identity of the Igbo people.

She commended the Vice-Chancellor of COOU and the university management, particularly Professor Kate Omenugha, for establishing the Centre, describing it as a visionary intervention aimed at safeguarding the Igbo language and cultural heritage for future generations.
Professor Ikegwuonu stressed that the Centre would require the support of individuals, corporate organisations and philanthropists to fully realise its objectives, adding that major contributors would be immortalised through projects named in their honour.

She also called on parents to play active roles in preserving the Igbo identity by deliberately teaching their children the language and instilling traditional values such as respect for elders, honesty, hard work, contentment, peaceful coexistence and community service.

According to her, rapid urbanisation, migration and increasing interaction with other cultures have contributed to the gradual decline in the use of the Igbo language, with many children both in Nigeria and abroad unable to speak their native tongue fluently.

“Our language and culture define our identity. They tell the world who we are and where we come from. Parents must intentionally involve their children in the culture of their people because once the language is lost, identity is gradually lost as well,” she said.

Receiving the award on behalf of Dr. Aguoji, her brother, Pastor Ikechukwu Ekunno, expressed appreciation to the university for recognising her lifelong commitment to promoting Igbo language and culture around the world.

He urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to preserve the Igbo heritage by documenting the language, customs and history through books and educational materials for future generations.

Pastor Ekunno noted that there is a growing cultural awakening among Igbo communities in the diaspora, leading to increased demand for books and learning resources that teach children born overseas the Igbo language and traditions.

The recognition of Dr. Aguoji was widely applauded as a fitting tribute to a woman whose decades-long career has been marked by educational excellence, selfless community service and passionate advocacy for the preservation of Igbo culture.

As the first female President of the Council of Igbo States in the Americas (CISA), Dr. Aguoji made history by returning the internationally acclaimed CISA Festival of Arts and Culture to Nigeria after many years of being hosted exclusively in the United States.

Hosted in her hometown of Abagana, the historic festival marked the first homeland edition of the event and symbolised a renewed bond between Igbo communities in the diaspora and their ancestral homeland.

During the festival, Dr. Aguoji explained that her vision was to “bring this beacon back to source,” a mission she said required courage, conviction and collective support.

The vision became a reality with the backing of the CISA leadership, including Board Chairman Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Vice Chairman Onye Nze Amadiebube Mbama, Board Adviser Professor Napoleon Onyechi and members of the Governing Council.

The festival, themed “Oganiru Ifediche: Reconnecting Igbo Global Roots for Cultural Renaissance,” underscored a renewed commitment to preserving Igbo identity while celebrating the achievements and contributions of Igbos across the world.

Dr. Aguoji also pioneered a dual-hosting model for the festival, allowing future editions to alternate between the diaspora and the homeland. The initiative has already attracted interest from several states, with Ebonyi and Imo reportedly indicating willingness to host future editions.

In her farewell message as CISA President, she urged future leaders to sustain the strong bond between the diaspora and the homeland, describing the relationship as one of the greatest strengths of the Igbo nation.

Former Anambra State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Don Onyenji, also commended the renewed commitment to preserving Igbo culture.

He recalled that concerns had existed in the early 2000s about the gradual erosion of Igbo cultural identity but expressed delight that a remarkable cultural renaissance is now taking place.

According to him, interactions with Igbo communities abroad reveal a growing desire among younger generations to learn the language and reconnect with their roots.

He added that initiatives such as Anawood, alongside films, music, dance and comedy rooted in Igbo traditions, have continued to promote the language and strengthen cultural consciousness among the people.

The maiden COOU Cultural Day Festival ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among governments, educational institutions, traditional rulers and Igbo organisations across the world to ensure that the language, customs and rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people continue to thrive for generations to come.