By Ncheta Nd’igbo
It’s time for another #NcháwàpụtáSpotlight, and we present Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro: an Ìgbò teacher, language author, and the pioneering writer of the first Physics textbook in the Ìgbò language.
Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro’s journey began at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from 2011 to 2015. Even as an undergraduate, his passion for the Ìgbò language was clear. Remarkably, he published over 10 books during his studies, many of which were adopted for use in undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the university.
In 2017-2018, Okoro sought further specialisation in film subtitling, translation, and editing at Newcastle University and the University of the West of Scotland. His landmark achievement came in March 2024 with the publication of Fiziksi, the first-ever Physics textbook written in the Ìgbò language. This groundbreaking work is a pivotal step toward making advanced scientific concepts accessible in African indigenous languages, and it has the potential to transform science education in Ìgbò-speaking regions.
With over 58 books in Ìgbò, many of which are approved for use in Nigerian schools and universities, Maazi Okoro has significantly enriched Ìgbò literature and educational resources. His expertise has been recognized by esteemed institutions, and he served as the BBC’s first Ìgbò translator, making global news accessible to Ìgbò speakers. Currently, he is the Ìgbò Translations Director at Abibiman Publishers in the UK, further promoting Ìgbò literature on an international scale.
Mazi Okoro’s outstanding contributions have also been acknowledged globally. He was recently awarded a fully funded scholarship to pursue further studies at a prestigious U.S. university, with guaranteed graduate employment. This opportunity will enable him to extend his innovative work in language preservation and education to an even broader audience.
Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro’s legacy is bridging the educational gap by making science subjects accessible in Ìgbò, showing young Ìgbò students that their language can be a powerful tool for scientific advancement.
