The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON has slammed Uvwie politicians, chiefs and other stakeholders for poor attendance during the workshop for training on Uvwie language saying “Uvwie is the foundation of our existence.”
Abe 1 who spoke in Effurun, Delta state yesterday while declaring open a 3-day training programme for teachers regretted that the hall of the event was just three quarter full, adding “if Mr. President, Bola Tinubu is coming here today, the hall will be full but this is the foundation of our existence, if you have no language, you have no stake.”
He urged the facilitators of the Uvwie Dialect Restoration Initiative(UDRI) to be steadfast, stressing that the Uvwie Kindgom under his leadership was committed to education and those who are lukewarm would be left behind
According to him this is the last time he will speak English in any Uvwie Dialect Respostoration Initiative event saying the Uvwie language should be spoken at all events to promote its relevance
The monarch also urged Uvwie people not to speak derogatory about any quarter in the Uvwie Kingdom particularly before his presence, but emphasized the unity and relevance of all the quarters and people
He commended the Chairman, Uvwie Language Restoration Initiative, Chief Arigbala Sunny Daboner and his term for their commitment and recalled that Chief Daboner started this project singlehandedly over 18 years ago. He also thanked Chief Mrs Vera Asini, Chief Inspector of Education in Uvwie for her support.
In a brief remark, Chief Daboner thanked HRM Sideso who personally bankrolled the event and the Traditional Council of Chiefs for their immense support, as well as others at home and abroad for embracing this vision
Earlier in an opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Rex Eju described the event as a great day in Uvwie and thanked the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom for giving priority to education and that Uvwie was currently ahead of other in the promotion of indigenous language
