An Evaluation of the Use of Igbo Language Among Igbo Residents in Lagos State Nigeria

Eze Cyprian  Chidozie; Eze Mabel  Nkechinyere; Ikwuegbu Rosemary  Nkem

doi:10.59890/4fmjak06

Authors

Eze Cyprian Chidozie Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Nigeria Author
Eze Mabel Nkechinyere Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Nigeria Author
Ikwuegbu Rosemary Nkem Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Nigeria Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/4fmjak06

Keywords:

Language, Igbo, Lagos, Communication, Mother-Tongue, Migration

Abstract

Igbo is one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The people are Igbo and their language is Igbo. They are known for business minded and the most travelled of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. Due to concentration of industries in Lagos state, thousands of Igbo people are found in all the parts of Lagos state which is in South Western Nigeria. They migrate continuously from South-Eastern Nigeria to Lagos state, Nigeria. As they come to Lagos, they meet the host language which is Yoruba and English language which is the official language of the country Nigeria. They also come with their heritage language Igbo. Being faced with these two languages in addition to their heritage language, they have options of which language to use. The research is to investigate the Igbo language usage in communication among the Igbo residents in Lagos state, Nigeria. The researchers employed the survey research method and the questionnaire for data collection. A sample of 500 was taken from the total population. Multi-stage sampling was also used for the study. It was found that although the Igbo people in Lagos still cherish Igbo food as against their host delicacies and the western foods they prefer to communicate in English language and sometimes code-switching from Igbo to English when communicating with fellow Igbo. It is recommended that Igbo parents should speak Igbo to their fellow Igbo anywhere they found themselves to prevent Igbo extinction.

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