The people of Rivers State have applauded the lawmaker representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, for her continuous efforts in promoting indigenous language and cultural preservation among schoolchildren in the State.

This commendation was disclosed in a statement after the successful hosting of the “Reviving Our Heritage Through Knowledge” Ibani Language Quiz Competition for Junior Secondary Schools in Bonny Local Government Area.

The event which was sponsored by Banigo, brought together students, traditional rulers, and community leaders in a celebration of the Ibani identity, held on Saturday in Bonny Kingdom.

The quiz competition featured several junior secondary schools in every part of Bonny, which saw Bonny National Grammar School, Finima, secure first place.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Se-Alabo Cloude-Wilcox, in his opening remark outlined the initiative as visionary, praising Banigo and the organisers for inspiring young Ibani children to take pride in their language and heritage.

He said the struggle to “catch them young” would help preserve the Ibani culture for future generations.

In her goodwill message, Banigo underscored the importance of preserving local identity through language, noting that the Ibani tongue represents more than communication.

She described it as “a noble and transformative platform that promotes cultural literacy among young students.

“Today is more than an academic gathering; it is a celebration of identity, a reawakening of heritage, and a commitment to preserving the beauty of our Ibani language and culture.

“Our dialect, the Ibani tongue, is more than just words—it is the vessel of our history, the melody of our identity, and the heartbeat of our culture,” she said.