Achebe urges Ndigbo to invest in education

Author of the classic novel, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, has asked his fellow Ndigbo to reposition themselves for the future by investing in the education of their children.

He said this at the 2009 Ahiajoku Lecture which ended in Owerri on Friday where he spoke as a guest lecturer.

He said, “We must encourage our youths to go to school and establish night schools for traders who work in the markets during the day.

“Let us encourage young traders to pursue business degrees, including MBA, and our government should provide teachers for this purpose and invest in professional teacher education.”

Achebe in the speech which was laden with messages of hope in a brighter future for Ndigbo, called on his people to discard certain attitudes, and principles that could hinder their efforts at achieving unity and progress of the Igbo.

According to him, discriminatory behaviour among the people on account of differences in dialects spoken in the seven Igbo states in the country would continue to encourage divisions within the ethnic group.

The hero is always is known when he talks from the bank of experience.