Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has named four professors to take up newly established professorial chairs aimed at strengthening research and sustaining the Igbo language.
The appointments were announced on Thursday at the organisation’s secretariat in Enugu during a cheque presentation ceremony.
The selected academics are Mercy Nnyigide of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Boniface Mbah of University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ngozi Emeka-Nwobi of Ebonyi State University, and Ngozi Chukwukere of Imo State University.
The initiative forms part of a broader plan approved in 2025 to establish seven professorial chairs in Igbo studies across institutions in Igbo-speaking regions. The goal is to expand academic work around the language, culture, and historical documentation.
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata, said the programme responds to repeated alerts from international bodies, including UNESCO, indicating that the Igbo language faces risks of decline.
He explained that the organisation is prioritising structured research, documentation, and academic engagement as part of efforts to reverse that trend. According to him, the professorial chairs are designed to strengthen scholarly output and encourage renewed interest in Igbo language studies.
Azuta-Mbata added that the selection process for the chairs was competitive and that four positions have now been filled, with three remaining. He also outlined plans to expand the initiative through scholarships, bursaries, and digital learning platforms hosted on the organisation’s website.
He further disclosed ongoing plans to train about 200 young people, beginning with an initial cohort of 100, in coding and artificial intelligence as part of broader capacity-building efforts.
Chairman of the Professorial Chair Endowment Board of Trustees, Damian Opata, described the programme as a first in the organisation’s history, noting that it is intended to support research development, academic collaboration, and curriculum advancement in Igbo studies both locally and among diaspora communities.
The Board’s Secretary, Fred Eze, said the selection process involved detailed evaluation of academic records and research proposals to ensure that only qualified candidates were appointed.
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Boniface Mbah expressed appreciation for the appointments and pledged commitment to advancing research and teaching in Igbo language studies, adding that sustained collaboration would help secure its continuity for future generations.
