IGBO
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Igbo is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives, which are to:
1) Communicate and read effectively in Igbo;
2) Analyse issues in the language;
3) Interpret and explain figurative and idiomatic expressions in Igbo and
4) Apply Igbo literature to their daily life experiences and to demonstrate Igbo cultural values.
SECTION A: LANGUAGES (ASỤSỤ)
| Topics / contents / notes | Objectives |
|---|---|
1. Essay (Edemede) (a) Basic principles of essay writing: introduction, body and conclusion (b) Basic essay types and their characteristics (i) Narrative (Akọmakọ) (ii) Descriptive and Expository (Nkọwa na Nkọwami) (iii) Argumentative (Mgbagha/Ar ụmarụụka) (iv) Speech making (Ekwumekwu) (v) Letter Writing (Edemleta) (vi) Dialogue (Mkpar ị ta ụ ka) | Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the basic principles of essay writing; (ii) use words and expressions appropriate to a particular topic; (iii) differentiate between different essay types; (iv) describe the characteristics of essay types; (v) compare different types of essay; (vi) criticize other people’s essays. |
2. Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa) One passage of about one hundred and fifty (150) words. | Candidates should be able to: (i) explain the meanings of difficult words; (ii) give correct answers; (iii) differentiate between figurative and idiomatic expressions from the passage; (iv) deduce conclusion(s) based on the passage. |
3. Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ) (a) Vowels and Consonants (Ụdaume na mgbochiume) (b) Sound Patterns/Processes i. Syllabic nasals ( ụ daimi) ii. Semi-vowel (Myiri ụdaume ) iii. Nasal homoganicity (ndagba myiri ụ daume) iv. Syllable structure (nkeji mkp ụ r ụ okwu) v. Vowel harmony (ndakọr ị ta ụdaume); vi. Vowel assimilation (olilo ụ daume); vii. Vowel elision and consonant elision (ndap ụ ụ daume na ndap ụ mgbochiume) (c) Tone and tone marking ( Ụ daolu na Akara ụdaolu ) | Candidates should be able to: (i) identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals; (ii) distinguish between the speech sounds of the Igbo language; (iii) recognise semi-vowels (‘m’& ‘n’) and nasal homoganicity ; (iv) divide words into syllables; (v) identify the vowel groups in Igbo; (vi) describe vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonant elision; (vii) assign tone marks appropriately. |
4. Spelling and spelling rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe) | Candidates should be able to; (i) detect words written correctly in Igbo; (ii) determine appropriate word division in Igbo. |
5. Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo) | Candidates should be able to: (i) indicate the Igbo orthography; (ii) distinguish between the Igbo and English orthography. |
6. Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe) | Candidates should be able to: (i) differentiate between standard Igbo and dialects; (ii) use standard Igbo in their writings. |
7. Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n’Igbo) Processes of word derivation processes: coinages, loans and loans- blends (Mmụbawanye mkpụrụokwu site n’usoro mmepụta, mkpụpụta, mbite na mbiọgwa). | Candidates should be able to: (i) differentiate between loan and coined words; (ii) identify loan words and loan-blends in Igbo; (iii) spell Igbo words appropriately. |
8. Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ) (a) Parts of speech (Nkejiasụsụ): Nominals (Mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye), dgz. (b) The structure, types and characteristics of morpheme (Ndokọ, ụdị na njirimara mọfịm) Free & bound (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe) (i) the word (mkpụrụokwu) (ii) the phrase (nkebiokwu) (iii) the clause (nkebiahịrị) nominal, adverbial and adjectival clause (kemkpọaha, kenkwuwa na kenkọwa) (iv) the sentence (ahịrịokwu) simple (mfe), compound (ukwu), complex (mgbagwọ, dgz) | Candidates should be able to: (i) differentiate between grammatical categories; (ii) identify parts of speech and their functions; (iii) differentiate between types of affixes and their functions; (iv) determine types and characteristics of morphemes; (v) identify words, phrases, clauses, sentences, their types and characteristics. |
9. Translation (Ntụgharị) | Candidates should be able to: (i) translate English into Igbo and vice versa; (ii) communicate effectively in Igbo and English. |
SECTION B: LITERATURE (AGỤMAGỤ)
| Topics / contents / notes | Objectives |
|---|---|
1. Literary devices (Atụmatụokwu) dịka alliteration (bịambia mgbochiume), assonance (bịambịa ụdaume), parallelism (kwunkwugha), metaphor (mbụrụ), simile (myiri), hyperbole (egbeokwu), personification (mmemmadụ) proverbs (ilu), dgz. | Candidates should be able to: (i) identify all literary devices in the passages; (ii) interpret literary devices; (iii) differentiate between types of literary devices; (iv) use Igbo literary devices appropriately (v) |
2. Oral Literature: Agụmagụ Ọnụ/ Agụmagụ Ọdịnala: Folktales (ifo), myths (nkọmịrịkọ), legends (nkọkịrịkọ), poems (abụ), songs (uri), chants (mbem), riddles (agwụgwa), oral drama (ejije ọnụ), tongue-twister (okwuntụhị) dgz. | Candidates should be able to: (i) create folk stories, chants, riddles, oral drama etc. (ii) analyse various genres of oral literature; (iii) present ideas/formulae in accordance with underlying principles; (iv) apply the lessons of oral literature to their everyday life. |
3. Written Literature (Agụmagụ Ederede) (a) Prose (iduuazị) Tony U. Ubesie (1993). J ụọ Obinna . Oxford University Press. (b) Poetry (Abụ) Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014). Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd . ABỤ Poems) NDỊ A HỌPỤTARA (Selected | Candidates should be able to: (i) interpret the text; (ii) isolate the characters in the book; (iii) identify figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text; (iv) analyse the text; (v) identify the author, publisher and date of publication; (vi) draw moral lessons from the text. Candidates should be able to: (i) compare the types and themes of the poems; (ii) relate the poet’s idea to the contents of the poems; (iii) compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poems; |
1. Ọchịchị 18 - 19 | (iv) analyse the structures of the |
2. Onye Ndu 22 - 23 | poems; |
3. Nne Ọma 29 - 30 | (v) apply acquired knowledge and |
4. Oke Ọchịchọ 40 - 41 | moral lessons from the poems to |
5. Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma 53 - 54 | their daily lives. |
6. Ihe Ụwa 60 - 61 | |
7. Jiri Nwayọ 62 - 63 | |
8. Eziokwu 65 - 66 | |
9. Mma 67 - 69 | |
10. Nwanyị 92 - 94 | |
11. Aja Ala 101 - 103 | |
12. Ala Igbo 108 - 111 | |
13. Ndụ M N’ụwa A 131 - 132 | |
14. Ọjị 150 - 151 | |
15. Ụwa Emebighi 151 – 154 | |
16. Amamihe 168 – 169 | |
17. Ndụ Nwaanyị 178 – 180 | |
18. Nna M Ọgọenyi 181 – 184 | |
19. Ụlọakwụkwọ 192 - 193 | |
20. Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere 249 – 252 (c) DRAMA (EJIJE) | Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the type of drama the text |
J. C. Maduekwe (1979). Otu Mkpịsị Aka . Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa) | belongs to; (ii) determine the themes in the text; (iii) identify the story lines; (iv) find out the characters in the book; (v) appreciate the language style of the play; (vi) appraise the social problems raised by the author in the play; (vii) apply acquired knowledge to their personal lives. (viii) Identify the moral lessons from the drama text. |
SECTION C: CUSTOMS AND INSTITUTIONS
| Topics / contents / notes | Objectives |
|---|---|
(Omenala na Ewumewu) Igbo customs and institutions as categorized below: | Candidates should be able to: (i) describe the customs of their people; (ii) determine the rules and regulations guiding specified aspects of the |
1. Ekele dị iche ice: ekele ụtụtụ, ehihie, anyasị, nri, onye nọ n’ọrịa, nlakpu, ọrụ dg. | culture and tradition of the Igbo people; (iii) describe the importance of the aspects of Igbo culture; (iv) identify changes that have occurred |
2. Alụmdi na nwunye, ịgba alụkwaghịm. | as a result of civilization; (v) explore their environment for a |
3. Ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ, ikupụta nwa, ibi ugwu, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze. | better appreciation of their culture. |
4. Echichi: Nze na Ọzọ, Eze/Obi/Igwe, Iyọm/Lọọlọ | |
5. Ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe. | |
6. Ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala. | |
7. Ọgbọ/ebiri/uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ | |
8. Arụ na nsọala: Ihe nsọ, anụ nsọ, osisi nsọ, ebe nsọ. | |
9. Ọchịchị Ọdịnala: Igwe/Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, ụmụnna, ezinaụlọ, ụmụọkpụ/ ụmụada, otu ọgbọ. | |
10. Nnabata ọbịa, ọji na ịtu nzu, itu aha, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ. | |
11. Ihe ofufe: Ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, ịgọ mmụọ, ofufe. | |
12. Ngwa ofufe: Ọfọ, ikenga,okpesi. | |
13. Nkwenye: ịdụ isi/ịṅụ iyi, ịgba ndụ, orikọ, ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi anụ, ịha/ịchụ mmiri, dg. | |
14. Akụnaụba: inwe ala, ike ala, iri ekpe, elulu (ịkpa ọkụkọ, ewu, dg). | |
15. Abamaba: Mmọnwụ, ọkọnkọ, ekpe, ọmabe, odo, dibịa, dg. | |
16. Egwuregwu: mgba, egwu ọnwa, ikpọ ọga, ịzụ ǹchọ, ịzụ okwe, ịgba/ịchọ oro, dg. | |
17. Akaọrụ ndị Igbo: Ọrụ ugbo, ịkụ azụ, ịkpụ ụzụ, ịzụ ahịa, ịtụ ihe ọtụtụ, ịchụ nta, ime dibịa, ịkpụ ite, dg. | |
18. Emume: Ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji/iri ji, igbu ewu ukwu,iru mgbede,ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgụ afọ, dg. | |
SECTION D: General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua) | Candidates should be able to: (i) identify some dates, themes and |
1. Topical issues in the Igbo language, literature and culture e.g., Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo lectures and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. | functions of Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo and Ọhaneze Ndi Igbo Lectures; (ii) identify authors, publishers and dates of publication of various textbooks in Igbo; |
2. Authors, Publishers, dates and places of publication of works in Igbo. | (iii) acquaint themselves with the functions and contributions of the |
3. Igbo Studies Association (ISA) CURRENT ISSUES (Okwuakpụnọnụ) Note: Item writers should also choose their topics for comprehension exercises from such current issues as the following: | Igbo Studies Association (ISA). Candidates should be able to: (i) acquaint themselves with current issues; (ii) examine their effects; (iii) suggest remedies to the problems. |
1. HIV/AIDS, Cancer and Corona Virus (Ọrịa Mmịnwụ/Obirinaajaọcha, Awa eto na Ọrịa koro | |
2. Drug Abuse (Ịṅu Ọgwụ Agharaaghara) | |
3. Cultism (Otu Nzuzo) | |
4. Rights of Women and Children (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka) | |
5. Human Rights Violation and Child Abuse (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike na Mmetọ Nwata) | |
6. Religious Conflicts (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka) | |
7. Kidnapping (Ntọrọ Mmadụ) |
Recommended texts
- 1. Agụ-Ọfọdile, M.C. (2007). Nkụzi Asụsụ Igbo N’ụzọ Dị Mfe Maka Ndị Sinịọ Sekọndịrị Nke Atọ. Ibadan: Austin Modest Publishers.
- 2. Ụba – Mgbemena, A. (2006): N tọala Usoroas ụ s ụ Igbo. Ibadan: Gold Press Ltd.
- 3. Ofili, D. N., Anozie C. C. and Chukwu, A. O. (2012): Lingwistiiki Sayensị Asụsụ II. Enugu: Computer Edge Publishers.
- 4. Ezikeojiaku, P. A., Okebalama, C. N., Onweluzo, C. N. and Ekwe B. U. (1991). Ule Igbo Maka Sinịọ Sekọndịrị. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- 5. Anọzie, C. C. (2003). Igbo Kwenu : Akụkọ na Omenala nd ị Igbo Enugu: Computer Edge Publishers.
- 6. Ikekeonwu, C., Ezikeojiaku, P. A., Ubani, A. and Ugoji, J. (1999). Fonọlọji na Grama Igbo . Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- 7. Emenanjọ, E. N., Dike, O. N., Agomo S. N. and Ezeuko, R. O. (1999). Exam Focus Maka WASSCE Na UTME. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- 8. Ọfọmata, C. E. (2005): Ndezu Ụtọasụsụ Igbo . Enugu: Format Publishers (Nig.) Ltd.
- 9. Nzeakọ, J. U. T. (1972). Omenala Ndị Igbo . Ibadan: Longman (Nig.) Ltd.
- 10. Okoye, O. F. S., Ofoegbu, N. F. and Ezidiegwu, B. L. (1997) Ọ gbara Ọ h ụ r ụ Eliding t ọ as ụ s ụ Igbo maka Sin ịọ Sek ọ nd ị r ị . Onitsha: Houston Publishers Ltd.
- 11. Osuagwu, B. I. N. (1979). Nd ị Igbo na Omenala Ha. Nigeria: Macmillan.
- 12. Ubesie, T. U. (1978). Ọ dịnala Ndị Igbo . Ibadan: Oxford University Press.
- 13. Umeh, I. O. A., Onyekaonwu, G. O., Nwadike, I. U. and Okeke I. O. (1992). Ụ t ọ as ụ s ụ na Ag ụ mag ụ Igbo nke Sin ị ọ Sekọnd ị r ị Sukul. Ibadan: Evans.
From JAMB’s UTME syllabus (Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System), set out as a web page by Konetuto. JAMB updates the syllabus from time to time; confirm on jamb.gov.ng.