Obong of Calabar Urges WAEC to Reinstate Efik Language as Examination Subject

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to reinstate the Efik language in its examination curriculum and ensure schools across Nigeria continue teaching the language.

The traditional ruler made the appeal in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum, Gershom Henshaw, and made available to journalists in Calabar over the weekend.

The monarch raised concerns over the removal of Efik language from the WAEC curriculum, describing the development as unacceptable and an attack on the cultural heritage of the Efik people.

According to the statement, Efik remains one of Nigeria's widely spoken indigenous languages with a rich literary history.

The Obong noted that the language has a well-developed orthography and was used in translating the Bible in the 19th century. He also recalled that Efik featured prominently in news broadcasts on the former Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) from the 1960s through the 1980s, questioning why it should now be excluded from the WAEC curriculum.

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To prevent the language from going extinct, the monarch outlined several measures being championed by the palace. These include awarding scholarships to students offering Efik language in WAEC examinations, providing special allowances for Efik language teachers, recalling retired teachers to return to the classroom, and encouraging radio and television stations to air more programmes in Efik.

The Obong also expressed displeasure over reports that some candidates who registered for Efik language in the WAEC examination were instead issued Igbo question papers.

He described the incident as completely unacceptable and insisted that such an occurrence should never happen again.

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The traditional ruler assured WAEC that the Efik community would provide enough candidates to satisfy the council's requirements for offering the language as an examination subject.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar to preserving the Efik language and ensuring it remains a living language for future generations.