ONeb’s Foundation Academy has emerged winners at the maiden edition of As Queen Jane Chibuzor Nnadozie’s ‘Asusu Igbo Ga-Adi’ Quiz competition.
‘Asusu Igbo Ga-Adi’ Quiz competition is the pet project of Queen Jane Nnadozie who was the Asa Igbo 2014/2015 beauty queen. According to her, the competition which hosted 16 secondary schools from Owerri Senatorial Zone is one bold step in a journey of a thousand miles toward the restoration of Igbo language to where it used to be.
The competition which took place on Friday, November 28, 2015 at Pretoria City Hotels, Owerri, Imo State, was more of an Igbo language Spelling Bee, where the participants would have to translate an English word before dishing out the spelling in Igbo.
Queen Jane Nnadozie revealed that as a beauty queen in Igbo land, she tried to look downwards to trace back her origin and what was missing. She described external influences like colonization and civil war as the main reasons why Igbos have lost track on their origin.
“Igbos are displaced in Nigeria and we have abandoned our basic identity which is the language”, she said while speaking to www.otowngist.com, adding that by going round secondary schools in Igbo land for the sensitization, she will be making a huge impact in the restoration of Igbo language.
On the next thing, she said: “We only did this in Owerri Senatorial Zone and by January, February, we would be moving down to Okigwe and Orlu Zones, after which we will be heading to Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States”
With more than 500 students and teachers drawn from 16 schools in attendant, ONeb’s Foundation Academy emerged winners while Holy Ghost College Owerri and Emekuku High School came second and third respectively.
Mrs. Amos Goodness, the Igbo teacher of ONeb’s Foundation Academy hailed the organizers for the step in the sustenance of Igbo language. She cited quality preparation as the reason for their success, adding their students have always been urged to be proud of their identity, especially where it has to do with language.
Another teacher, Mrs. Alaoma Ogechi of Holy Ghost College Owerri also hailed the organizers and the winners, calling for the addition of more Igbo teachers in the planning and execution of subsequent editions of the competition, to enable them sink deeper into the secondary school curriculum.
ONeb’s Foundation Academy was represented by Akaegbu Emmanuel and Osuigwe Arinze. Holy Ghost College was represented by Ukwuoma Tochukwu and Ohanyere Pascal while Emekuku High School was represented by Nwachukwu Wisdom and Iheagwam Soromtochi.
The major gifts are Flat Screen Television, Standing Fan and electric kettle for first second and third respectively, as well as other consolation prizes such as school bags, exercise books, pens, etc, which were provided by the sponsors.
Special guests at the event include Prof. Vincent I. Ibekwe, the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education [CCE] Federal University of Technology Owerri; Chikodi Nwafor [aka Mopol], a Nollywood Actor; Mr. Ken Dimgba, the CEO, DKC Models and Most Beautiful Model in Imo State amongst others.
ONeb’s Foundation Academy representatives, Akaegbu Emmanuel and Osuigwe Arinze, with Mrs. Amos Goodness [1st Left] and Queen Jane Chibuzor Nnadozie
Holy Ghost College representatives, Ukwuoma Tochukwu and Ohanyere Pascal, with Mrs. Alaoma Ogechi and Queen Jane Chibuzor Nnadozie
Emekuku High School representatives, Nwachukwu Wisdom and Iheagwam Soromtochi, and Queen Jane Chibuzor Nnadozie
Queen Jane Chibuzor Nnadozie interacting with students and teachers after the event
A cross section of students at the event
Some contestants a the early stage of the competition
the finalists at the competition: ONeb’s Foundation Academy, Emekuku High School and Holy Ghost College warming up for questions
