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 By Uzo Ugwunze

The need to engage school-age children and youths in various forms of crafts, handiwork, and skill acquisition has been emphasized as part of the solution to combat hunger, hardship, unemployment, the "get-rich-quick" syndrome, and all forms of criminality in society.

This call to embrace craftsmanship was made during the celebration of Igbo Language and Culture, alongside a crafts exhibition, at the Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS), Onitsha.

Speaking during the event, the Principal of AGGS Onitsha, Lady Maureen Anyaenetu, described the acquisition of various skills early in life as an integral part of Igbo culture. She urged parents, guardians, and teachers to ensure that schoolchildren engage in learning and practicing different forms of crafts due to the numerous benefits of craftsmanship.

"There are no white-collar jobs available. Earnings are never enough to meet the numerous needs of a family, but a student who acquires different forms of skills can contribute to putting food on the table and even assist in sponsoring themselves through university education," said Lady Anyaenetu.

"The government has changed the curriculum of education from primary to junior secondary school. Thirty-five skills have been included in the secondary school curriculum, while 15 skills have been included in the primary school curriculum. At AGGS Onitsha, we teach fishery, bead and bag making, pastry making, soap and perfume production, hair making, and many other skills so that a child will not be a liability," she added.

"Culture is the people's way of life. It includes religion, values, language, forms of greeting, fashion, cuisine, and crafts, which define the strength of a community, tribe, or nation. Youths must endeavor to uphold their culture, which is transferred from generation to generation, to prevent it from going extinct."

"The essence of celebrating Igbo language, culture, and crafts exhibition today in this school is to instill good virtues and expunge vices in our children. We want our students to have practical knowledge and understanding of Igbo culture, which they ought to uphold as our identity," Lady Anyaenetu explained.

According to Mrs. Mary Eziamaka Umennadi, the Zonal Director of Education at the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) in Onitsha, Igbo cultural values, including craftsmanship, are eroding. "Before, Igbo people were not known for okeite or Yahoo Plus but for dignity in labor. Today, you hardly find good auto mechanics or carpenters. That is why the 2025 primary to junior secondary school curriculum contains 15 skills a child should acquire before finishing secondary school. Parents should desist from buying smartphones for secondary school students but instead support their children in learning basic skills and crafts," said Mrs. Umennadi.

The President of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Anambra State, Mrs. Bibian Onwuka, decried the way both married and unmarried young adults have been adopting negative acculturation at the expense of Igbo cultural values. "Sagging, crazy hairdos, and going braless or pantless are now the order of the day. The government introduced this program as part of educating our youths on the good aspects of our rich cultural heritage," she said.

The Protem Chairman of the event and former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Emeka Anyaenetu, noted that while the promotion of Igbo culture is necessary, it would not stop cultural diffusion, which includes adopting good aspects of other people's culture into Igbo culture. He stated that both the preparation and the actual cultural day celebration had exposed the children to another form of education, helping them know their roots.

The Mother of the Day, Dr. Lady Ngozi Agbasimalo, a member of the Anambra State Education Advisory Council to the Governor, commended the AGGS Onitsha school management for joining the advocacy to promote Igbo language and culture.

"Prof. Peter Ejiofor did so much at the tertiary education level to promote Igbo language speaking. Former Anambra State Governors like Peter Obi made Igbo language compulsory for all primary and secondary schools in Anambra and sponsored some students who majored in Igbo language up to university education. Willie Obiano also made it statutory in all schools and government offices that every Wednesday must be for Igbo speaking and cultural dressing in the state," said Dr. Agbasimalo.

The Principal of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Ven. Chigozie Anaeto, and Ven. Kperechukwu Nwankwo, Archdeacon of Nkpor New Covenant Archdeaconry, refuted the general belief that Igbo culture is evil. Instead, they posited that what the church or Jesus Christ is against are traditional, idol worship, and fetish practices that are inhuman, against the word of God, or biased against the female gender.

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included a delegation of illustrious sons of Oba led by Elder Onyema Ugwunze, retired ZDE PPSSC Onitsha, Lady Josephine Igboanusi, ZDE ASUBEB Onitsha, Mrs. Augustina Umeh, Godwin Onwuka Nwannayagbuagu, Bright Egwuenu Ezeabata, and the immediate past Principal of AGGS Onitsha, Dame Mercy Nneka Nwankwo. They all commended the AGGS Onitsha school management and students for the cultural exhibition, encouraging parents to expose their children to good cultural values and craftsmanship, regardless of the level of education or status they desire for them.

Highlights of the occasion included news casting in the Igbo language, cultural dances, itu mpete, igba Odu dance, and exhibitions of various trades Igbo people are known for, such as iku-azu (fishing), ite-mmanya (wine tapping), olu-ugbo (farming), and igba-nta (hunting). Other activities included a fashion parade (ejiji) and exhibitions of different crafts produced by AGGS students, such as perfumes, soaps, car wash products, pastries, beads, bags, and dresses with unique designs.

The Igweship competition saw Igwe Chukwujekwu Peace of SSS 2E, Lolo Nwabueze Chisimdi of SSS 2D, Prince Odo Esther of SSS 2A, and Princess Afubero Priscilia of SSS 2C, all from Orange House, emerge as winners and the royal family of AGGS Onitsha.