If you are preparing to write Igbo Language in JAMB, one of the things you should have is the official JAMB syllabus for the subject. The syllabus gives you an idea of the areas you are expected to cover and can help you organise your study properly.
Instead of reading without knowing what to focus on, you can use the syllabus to guide your preparation and make sure you cover the different topics included for the examination. It also contains areas covering Igbo Language, Literature, Customs and Institutions, as well as General and Current Affairs.
If Igbo is one of your JAMB subjects, make sure you go through the syllabus and use it while preparing for the examination. Read this post to see the complete JAMB Igbo Language syllabus and the recommended texts you should study.
JAMB Igbo Language Syllabus
Section A: Languages (Asụsụ)
| S/N |
Topic |
Contents/Notes |
| 1 |
Essay (Edemede) |
Basic principles of essay writing: Introduction, body and conclusion. Basic essay types and their characteristics: Narrative (Akọmakọ), Descriptive and Expository (Nkọwa na Nkọwami), Argumentative (Mgbagha/Arụmarụụka), Speech Making (Ekwumekwu), Letter Writing (Edemleta), Dialogue (Mkparịtaụka). |
| 2 |
Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa) |
One passage of about one hundred and fifty (150) words. |
| 3 |
Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ) |
Vowels and Consonants (Ụdaume na mgbochiume). Sound Patterns/Processes: Syllabic nasals (ụdaimi), Semi-vowel (Myiriụdaume), Nasal homoganicity (ndagba myiriụdaume), Syllable structure (nkeji mkpụrụokwu), Vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume), Vowel assimilation (olilo ụdaume), Vowel elision and consonant elision (ndapụ ụdaume na ndapụ mgbochiume). Tone and tone marking (Ụdaolu na Akara ụdaolu). |
| 4 |
Spelling and Spelling Rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe) |
Spelling and spelling rules in Igbo. |
| 5 |
Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo) |
Igbo orthography. |
| 6 |
Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe) |
Dialect and Standard Igbo. |
| 7 |
Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n’Igbo) |
Processes of word derivation: coinages, loans and loan-blends (Mmụbawanye mkpụrụokwu site n’usoro mmepụta, mkpụpụta, mbite na mbiọgwa). |
| 8 |
Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ) |
Parts of speech (Nkejiasụsụ): Nominals (Mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye), dgz. The structure, types and characteristics of morpheme (Ndokọ, ụdị na njirimara mọfịm): Free & bound (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe). The word (mkpụrụokwu), phrase (nkebiokwu), clause (nkebiahịrị): nominal, adverbial and adjectival clause (kemkpọaha, kenkwuwa na kenkọwa). The sentence (ahịrịokwu): simple (mfe), compound (ukwu), complex (mgbagwọ), dgz. |
| 9 |
Translation (Ntụgharị) |
Translation between English and Igbo. |
Section B: Literature (Agụmagụ)
| S/N |
Topic |
Contents/Notes |
| 1 |
Literary Devices (Atụmatụokwu) |
Alliteration (bịambia mgbochiume), assonance (bịambịa ụdaume), parallelism (kwunkwugha), metaphor (mbụrụ), simile (myiri), hyperbole (egbeokwu), personification (mmemmadụ), proverbs (ilu), dgz. |
| 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. |
| 3 |
Written Literature (Agụmagụ Ederede): Prose (Iduuazị) |
Tony U. Ubesie (1993), Jụọ Obinna. Oxford University Press. |
| 4 |
Poetry (Abụ) |
Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014), Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd. |
Selected Poems
| S/N |
Poem |
Pages |
| 1 |
Ọchịchị |
18–19 |
| 2 |
Onye Ndu |
22–23 |
| 3 |
Nne Ọma |
29–30 |
| 4 |
Oke Ọchịchọ |
40–41 |
| 5 |
Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma |
53–54 |
| 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 |
Drama (Ejije)
| Topic |
Text |
| Drama (Ejije) |
J. C. Maduekwe (1979), Otu Mkpịsị Aka. Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa). |
Section C: Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu)
| S/N |
Topic |
Contents/Notes |
| 1 |
Ekele dị iche iche |
Ekele ụtụtụ, ehihie, anyasị, nri, onye nọ n’ọrịa, nlakpu, ọrụ, dg. |
| 2 |
Alụmdi na nwunye |
Marriage and divorce. |
| 3 |
Ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ |
Ikupụta nwa, ibi ugwu, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze. |
| 4 |
Echichi |
Nze na Ọzọ, Eze/Obi/Igwe, Iyọm/Lọọlọ. |
| 5 |
Ike ekpe |
Iri ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe. |
| 6 |
Ụmụnna na ndị ọzọ |
Ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala. |
| 7 |
Social Groups |
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 na nkwanye ùgwù |
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)
| S/N |
Topic |
Contents/Notes |
| 1 |
Topical Issues in Igbo |
Current issues in Igbo language, literature and culture, such as Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo lectures and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. |
| 2 |
Authors, Publishers and Publications |
Authors, publishers, dates and places of publication of works in Igbo. |
| 3 |
Igbo Studies Association (ISA) |
Igbo Studies Association (ISA). |
| 4 |
Current Issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ) |
HIV/AIDS, Cancer and Coronavirus; Drug Abuse (Ịṅu Ọgwụ Agharaaghara); Cultism (Otu Nzuzo); Rights of Women and Children (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka); Human Rights Violation and Child Abuse (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike na Mmetọ Nwata); Religious Conflicts (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka); Kidnapping (Ntọrọ Mmadụ). |
Recommended Texts
- Agụ-Ọfọdile, M.C. (2007). Nkụzi Asụsụ Igbo N’ụzọ Dị Mfe Maka Ndị Sinịọ Sekọndịrị Nke Atọ. Ibadan: Austin Modest Publishers.
- Ụba–Mgbemena, A. (2006). Ntọala Usoroasụsụ Igbo. Ibadan: Gold Press Ltd.
- Ofili, D. N., Anozie, C. C. and Chukwu, A. O. (2012). Lingwistiiki Sayensị Asụsụ II. Enugu: Computer Edge Publishers.
- Ezikeojiaku, P. A., Okebalama, C. N., Onweluzo, C. N. and Ekwe, B. U. (1991). Ule Igbo Maka Sinịọ Sekọndịrị. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- Anọzie, C. C. (2003). Igbo Kwenu: Akụkọ na Omenala ndị Igbo. Enugu: Computer Edge Publishers.
- Ikekeonwu, C., Ezikeojiaku, P. A., Ubani, A. and Ugoji, J. (1999). Fonọlọji na Grama Igbo. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- Emenanjọ, E. N., Dike, O. N., Agomo, S. N. and Ezeuko, R. O. (1999). Exam Focus Maka WASSCE Na UTME. Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- Ọfọmata, C. E. (2005). Ndezu Ụtọasụsụ Igbo. Enugu: Format Publishers (Nig.) Ltd.
- Nzeakọ, J. U. T. (1972). Omenala Ndị Igbo. Ibadan: Longman (Nig.) Ltd.
- Okoye, O. F. S., Ofoegbu, N. F. and Ezidiegwu, B. L. (1997). Ọgbara Ọhụrụ Elidingtọasụsụ Igbo Maka Sinịọ Sekọndịrị. Onitsha: Houston Publishers Ltd.
- Osuagwu, B. I. N. (1979). Ndị Igbo na Omenala Ha. Nigeria: Macmillan.
- Ubesie, T. U. (1978). Ọdịnala Ndị Igbo. Ibadan: Oxford University Press.
- Umeh, I. O. A., Onyekaonwu, G. O., Nwadike, I. U. and Okeke, I. O. (1992). Ụtọasụsụ na Agụmagụ Igbo nke Sinịọ Sekọndịrị Sukul. Ibadan: Evans.
If Igbo is one of the subjects you will be writing in JAMB, make sure you read this post to see the complete JAMB Igbo Language syllabus and the recommended texts you should study. You should also share this post with other candidates who may be writing Igbo in JAMB, so they can also use the syllabus to prepare. For more JAMB syllabuses, admission requirements and other useful information for candidates, check out our page.
