AWKA, Nigeria — The Igbo Women Assembly raised the alarm Thursday over the sharp drop in Igbo language use by younger generations. Without swift intervention, the group stated, the language that defines Igbo identity could vanish entirely.

The assembly announced its 2026 Mother Tongue Day event at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka. The two-day program runs Friday, February 20, through Saturday, February 21. A statement signed by National President Lolo Nneka Chimezie blamed the shift toward English and other foreign languages among Igbo youth.

“Once we lose our language, we lose our identity,” the statement said. “There may be Igbo people, but without the language, the Igbo race will gradually disappear.”

Igbo Women Assembly members pointed to Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba groups in Nigeria as examples. Those communities speak their languages proudly wherever they go, the group noted. Igbo people, by contrast, often abandon theirs too easily.

The assembly called on Igbo families in Nigeria and abroad to teach children the language daily. Igbo is neither inferior nor a mistake, the statement stressed. It praised some Igbo families in China and the United States for already promoting the language and culture at home.

Leaders must step up too. The group urged Igbo traditional rulers, community president-generals and opinion leaders in the South-East to attend the Awka event. Expected guests include Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Senator Azu Mbata, former Anambra State Commissioner for Information Professor Stella Okunna and HRM Eze Chukwuemeka Nri, the traditional ruler of Nri Kingdom.

The event moved from Lagos to the South-East three years ago. Organizers cited growing language neglect even in rural areas as the reason. This year’s program kicks off Friday at 4 p.m. with a symposium. Lectures and panel discussions there will focus on preserving Igbo language and culture.

Mother Tongue Day draws global attention through United Nations collaboration. The annual observance pushes for indigenous language survival everywhere. Igbo Women Assembly joined the effort in 2019 and has advocated steadily since.

The assembly’s push comes amid broader worries about Nigeria’s minority languages. Census data shows English dominating urban and educated circles. Igbo speakers numbered around 27 million in the 2006 national count, but daily use has plummeted, especially outside homes.

Educators and linguists echo the concerns. Schools in Igbo land often prioritize English from early grades. Social media and Nollywood films favor pidgin or English too. The result: Children grow up fluent in foreign tongues but struggle with their mother language.

Igbo Women Assembly isn’t alone. Other groups like the Igbo Language Development Foundation run classes and apps. Still, the assembly bets on cultural events like this one to spark real change. South-East governors have promised support in past years, though follow-through varies.

Attendance could top 5,000, organizers predict. Booths will showcase Igbo books, music and food. Performances aim to make the language fun for kids. The weekend wraps with pledges from attendees to speak Igbo more at home and work.

For the Igbo Women Assembly, success means halting the slide. The group plans follow-up workshops in diaspora hubs like Houston and London. Lolo Nneka Chimezie told reporters the fight is for survival. Igbo unity hinges on the tongue that binds them.