The Obong of Calabar Executive Forum has formally requested that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) bring the Efik language back into its official examination curriculum. Furthermore, the group is urging Nigerian schools to prioritize instruction in the language.
In a formal address, Forum Chairman Gershom Henshaw labeled the removal of Efik from the WAEC syllabus an affront to the Efik community. Henshaw highlighted that Efik is a prominent indigenous language with a rich history, noting that it was used for Bible translation in the 1800s and for broadcasts on the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation between the 1960s and 1980s.
To prevent the language from fading, the Forum has introduced scholarships for students who study Efik for their WAEC exams and is offering extra pay to Efik instructors. Plans are also underway to bring back retired teachers and expand radio and television programming in the language. Henshaw voiced strong frustration after students were mistakenly provided with Igbo exam papers instead of Efik, calling the incident unacceptable. The palace remains committed to ensuring the language thrives by providing a sufficient number of exam candidates to satisfy WAEC criteria.
