Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Solomon Ighrakpata has commended the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom HRM Emmanuel Sideso for supporting the teaching of the Uvwie dialect of Urhobo language.
He made the commendation during the unveiling of Uvwie dialect textbooks, and computers among other teaching and materials in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
Represented by one of his assistants, Mr Paul Itanwasan, Ighrakpata noted that the introduction of the Uvwie dialect of Urhobo language into curriculums of schools in Uvwie Local Government Area would go a long way in preventing the language from extinction.
Earlier, the monarch commended the Delta State Government for approving the teaching of the Uvwie dialect in primary schools in the Local Government Area.
The Uvwie monarch hoped that with the commencement of the Uvwie dialect in primary schools from the 2024-2025 academic session, more children in Uvwie would understand and speak the dialect. He revealed that the idea of reviving the Uvwie dialect of the Urhobo language which started 15 years ago has gotten approval for it to be taught in primary schools in Uvwie local government area.
HRM Sideso commended the Uvwie dialect restoration initiative team led by Chief Sonny Daboner for their courage and patience in ensuring the subject was approved.
The chairman of Uvwie dialect of the Urhobo language restoration initiative, Chief Sonny Daboner whose speech was read by his wife, Mrs Rose Daboner also thanked the monarch for supporting the initiative. Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Bureau for Pension, Sir Eddy Gbegbaje and Chief Abraham Edjedegba appealed to the people of Uvwie to support the programme as they noted that it was a laudable achievement.
The guest speaker, Dr Christy Okeoghene said teaching of Uvwie dialect in primary schools in the Uvwie Local Government Area would help the dialect from extinction.
She commended the state government for approving the Uvwie dialect in primary schools in the Local Government Area, just as she advised parents to always speak Uvwie at home to enable their children to learn the language.
Highpoint of the event was the unveiling of Uvwie dialect textbooks, and computers, amongst others by the Ovie of Uvwie kingdom and his council of chiefs to kick start the programme.
The Unuevworo of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Hope Akasa, who spoke to our correspondent, appealed to Uvwie sons and daughters to key into the project as he noted that language is a means of cultural identification.
Akasa commended the monarch for supporting the project, just as he showered praises on Chief Daboner and his team for their efforts in promoting the learning of the Uvwie dialect.
He also encouraged non-indigenes to embrace the Uvwie dialect as he suggested that it should be the major means of communication as it was done in the western and northern parts of the country.
