How Penicillin Changed Medicine Forever

...As CONSA Advocates For Igbo Language And Culture Preservation

By Uzo Ugwunze

The Students and Staff of the College of Nursing Sciences St Joseph's Hospital Adazi- Nnukwu (CONSA) have appealed to the Anambra State Government to assist the faith based institution owned by the Catholic Diocese of Awka in constructing more hostels, classroom blocks and a befitting Administrative block to solve the accommodation challenges facing the institution due to the influx of students.

The appeal was made recently during the 2024 Students Cultural day celebration themed "Omenala Igbo Ka Odiri Gawazie- Igbo Culture should continue" at CONSA Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha Local Government Area.

The students also joined other lovers of Igbo language, customs and traditions to advocate for the importance of preserving, promoting Igbo culture and ensuring that the younger generation do not neglect the values and norms that identifies the Igbo people.

Speaking during the event, His Royal Highness, Igwe Nnabuike Evaristus Ugochukwu (Igwe Chimereze 1 of CONSA) after eulogizing the culture and traditions of Igbo land used the occasion to appeal to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to extend his solution mantra to the institution by improving the infrastructure of the prestigious College of Nursing Sciences.

"Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State have achieved a lot within few years in office both in infrastructure and health sector. We want him to assist our college in building more hostels and classroom blocks to accommodate many students being admitted in CONSA.

                          

"The essence of celebrating this 2024 cultural day is to promote Igbo culture. For instance, most children only know how to speak English language very well without putting as much effort to learn and speak our mother tongue very well. They even want to speak like the Englishmen and even despise our own Igbo language and think that it is inferior to speak Igbo language. We are here to encourage people, parents and young ones to speak Igbo language because it is our identity and should not be allowed to go extinct," said Igwe Ugochukwu Chimereze.

The Head of Department, Nursing Sciences, Mrs Mary Micheal Ezenwuba after praising the students for their passion to promote and preserve Igbo culture and traditions urged the State Government to pay attention to private health institutions and assist them because they produce talented students which are potential workforce that would assist in healthcare delivery in the future.

"Although this is a private owned School of Nursing Sciences but Government should not only pay attention to the public schools because we contribute in manpower development of the health sector. We need administrative block and more structures in St Joseph's Hospital Adazi-Nnukwu to cope with the expansion needed due to the number of students attracted to the institution on yearly basis because of the quality education we provide," said Mrs Ezenwuba.

                                       

Moreso, A Special Guest and Archival king,HRM RT.Comr. Chidi Chuba (Igwe Chimeremeze VI of Anambra State College of Nursing Sciences Nkpor) harped on the need to keep teaching the younger generation the Igbo customs and traditions saying that there was nothing fetish about Igbo culture.

"Igbo culture is beautiful. Many Igbo People do not know their left from their right as concerning our customs and traditions branding everything as fetish or paganism. Igbo culture does not condone lies but upholds the truth.

"We should teach our children that women do not break kolanuts, that it is the landlord or a native of a community that prays and breaks kola and not visitors, that every male must removes his cap during prayers or breaking of kolanut and so many other things including respect for elders, and people from your mother's place (nnaochie or umerenne)," he said.

The duo of HRM Andrew Anosike (Igwe Nwachinemelu Ezedioramma of Anaocha at Federal Polytechnic Oko 2009/2010) and HRM Ifeanyi Orji (Igwe Nwachinemelu Ezedioramma XV of Anaocha at Fedpoly Oko) after reiterating the need to preserve the Igbo culture frowned at the way some primary and secondary school teachers fine or punish students for speaking Igbo language or vanacular in class saying that Igbo language is not inferior to any other language.

The newly crowned HRM Uzoechi Chidubem (Igwe Nwachimereze 1 of CONSA) after thanking his predecessor for laying a good cultural legacy in the institution and hosting a colourful offala/cultural day celebration which attracted about 25 Royal fathers or Igwes from different higher institutions promised to uphold the tenets of Igbo culture.

"We need additional buildings in our school both State Government and well-meaning individuals can assist us. We also need a Student's bus that can enable us transport ourselves for events, excursions and outside campus' studies.

"I will like to commend former Governor Willie Obiano for carving out every Wednesday in the week for Igbo language speaking, dressing codes and promotion in schools and government establishments and I urge other governors in the South East to emulate him", said Igwe Uzoechi of CONSA.

Highlights of the event include coronation of new Igwe CONSA and capping of cabinet chiefs and Lolos, Presentation of 'Nursing & Midwifery Education Award' to former House of Representatives Member, Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia federal constituency, Hon Dozie Ferdinand Nwankwo (Onye Ndozi) for his Youth Employment programs which include scholarships, Skill acquisition, Grants for small businesses through his foundation.

Responding to the Award, Hon Dozie Nwankwo’s representative, Hon Dozie Emegwalu appreciated the CONSA students for recognizing his contributions to the society and to the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow saying that he would do more to empower youths, women and every person he can as long as God continues to bless him.