- Ibani Language Quiz Competition for Junior Secondary Schools
- “Catch them young” would help preserve the Ibani culture
- the importance of preserving local identity through language
Stakeholders in Rivers State have commended the lawmaker representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, for her sustained efforts to promote indigenous language and cultural preservation among schoolchildren.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that their commendation was disclosed in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, following the successful hosting of the “Reviving Our Heritage Through Knowledge” Ibani Language Quiz Competition for Junior Secondary Schools in Bonny Local Government Area.
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The event, sponsored by Banigo, brought together students, traditional rulers, and community leaders in a celebration of the Ibani identity, held on Saturday in Bonny Kingdom.
The quiz competition saw Bonny National Grammar School, Finima, clinch first place. Community Junior Secondary School, Finima, and Lucille Educational Centre, Bonny, came second and third, respectively.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Se-Alabo Cloude-Wilcox, described the initiative as visionary, praising Banigo and the organisers for inspiring young Ibani children to take pride in their language and heritage. He said the effort to “catch them young” would help preserve the Ibani culture for future generations.
In her goodwill message, Banigo, represented by her special assistant, Adokiye Ogonobere, underscored the importance of preserving local identity through language, describing the competition as a “noble and transformative platform that promotes cultural literacy among young students.”
She added: “Our dialect, the Ibani tongue, is more than just words—it is the vessel of our history, the melody of our identity, and the heartbeat of our culture.”
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