JAMB Syllabus for Igbo 2024/2025 | PDF Download

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the Igbo syllabus for the 2024/2025 academic session.

This initiative is part of JAMB’s commitment to providing students with comprehensive preparatory materials for the upcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), ensuring a well-rounded and effective study experience.

Objectives of JAMB Syllabus For Igbo

The JAMB syllabus Igbo aims to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination and to test candidates’ understanding, knowledge, and acquisition of the following areas of the subject:

• Communicate effectively in Igbo.
•  Analyze issues in the language.
•  Explain and Interpret figurative and idiomatic expressions in Igbo.
•  Apply Igbo literature to their experiences in daily life and exhibit Igbo cultural values.

Topics Under JAMB Igbo Syllabus

The topics in the JAMB syllabus for Igbo are divided into four sections.

Section A: Languages (ASỤSỤ)

Topic 1: Essay (Edemede)

• Essay writing basics; an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
• Basic essay types and their characteristics, which include the following:
  • Narrative (Akọmakọ)
  • Expository and Descriptive (Nkọwami na Nkọwa)
  • Argumentative (Mgbagha/Arụmarụụka)
  •  Speech making (Ekwumekwu)
  • Letter Writing (Edemleta)
  • Dialogue (Mkparịtaụka)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Identify the basic principles of essay writing.
•  Use language and expressions appropriate for the topic at hand.
•  Differentiate between different essay types.
•  Describe the characteristics of essay types.
•  Compare different types of essays.
•  Criticize other people’s essays.

Topic 2: Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa)

Two passages each of about one hundred and fifty (150) words.

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Explain the meanings of difficult words.
•  Give correct answers
•  Identify figurative and idiomatic language used in the passage.
•  Deduce conclusion(s) based on the passage.

Topic 3: Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ)

• Vowels and Consonants (Ụdaume na mgbochiume)
• Sound Patterns/Processes
• Syllabic nasals (myiri ụdaume)
• Syllable structure (nkebi mkpụrụokwu)
• Vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume);
• Vowel assimilation (olilo ụdaume);
• Elimination of vowels and consonants (ndapụ ụdaume na ndapụ mgbochiume)
• Tone and tone marking (Akara ụdaolu)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Identify vowels, consonants, and syllabic nasals.
• Differentiate between the Igbo language’s speech sounds.
• Recognize syllabic nasals ‘m’ & ‘n.’
• Determine the syllabic structure of any word.
• Identify the vowel groups in Igbo.
• Describe vowel assimilation and vowel and consonant elision.
• Assign tone marks appropriately.

Topic 4: Spelling and spelling rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Detect words written correctly in Igbo.
• Observe consonant restrictions in Igbo.
• Determine appropriate word division in Igbo.
• Apply correct spelling in writing.

Topic 5: Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo)

Topic 6: Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Differentiate between standard Igbo and dialects.
• Use standard Igbo in their writings.

Topic 7: Vocabulary (Mkpụrụokwu dị n’asụsụ)

Expansion through word derivation processes, coinages, loans, and loan blends (Ịkwalite mmepụta, mkpoputa, ịkpọ okwu, na ịkpọ okwu nwere ike ịbawanye okwu).

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Differentiate between loan and coined words.
• Identify loan words and loan blends in Igbo.
• Use words appropriately.

Topic 8: Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ)

• Speech components (Nkejiasụsụ): Nominals (ọdịiche asụsụ), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunya), dg.
•  The structure, types, and functions of the morpheme (Ndokọ, ụdị na ọrụ mọfịm) Free & bound (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe)
• The word (mkpụrụokwu)
• The phrase (nkebiokwu)
• The clause (nkebiahịrị) nominal, relative adverbial (kemkpọaha na kenkwuwa)
• The sentence (ahịrịokwu) compound (ukwu), simple (mfe), complex (mgbagwọ, dg)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Differentiate between grammatical categories.
• Identify parts of speech and their functions.
• Distinguish between various affix types and their purposes.
• Determine types of morphemes and their functions.
• Identify words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and their functions.

Topic 9: Translation (Ntụgharị)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Translate English into Igbo and vice versa.
• Communicate effectively in Igbo and English.

Section B: Literature (AGỤMAGỤ)

Topic 1: Literary devices (Atụmatụokwu na atụmatụ agụmagụ)

Yiri ilu, ntughari uche, nkuzi, myirịta, ihe atụ, myirịta, okwu nkwulu, na ihe ntule.

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Identify all literary devices in the passages.
• Interpret literary devices.
• Differentiate between types of literary devices.
• Use Igbo literary devices appropriately.

Topic 2: Oral Literature: Agụmagụ Ọnụ/ Agụmagụ Ọdịnala

Questions will be set on the following: folktales (ifo), anecdotes (ụkabụilu), myths (nkọmịrịkọ), legends (nkọkịrịkọ), songs (URI), chants (mem), poems (abụ), riddles (agwụgwa), oral drama (ejije ọnụ), tongue-twister (okwuntụhị) dg.

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Create folk stories, anecdotes, chants, riddles, oral drama, etc. apply the lessons of oral literature to their everyday life.
•  Analyze various genres of oral literature.
•  Present ideas/formulae following underlying principles.
•  Apply the knowledge gained from oral literature to their daily lives.

Topic 3: Written Literature (Agụmagụ Ederede)

Prose (Iduuazị)

• Ude Ọdịlọra (1981) Ọkpa Akụ Eri Eri. Onitsha: University Press. (NECO/WAEC) (2016-2020).

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Interpret the texts.
•  Isolate the characters in the books.
•  Compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text.
•  Analyze the texts.
•  Identify the authors, publishers, and dates of the books.
•  Draw moral lessons from the texts.
• Poetry (Abụ).
• Ikeokwu E.S & Onyejekwe M.C. (2009) Uche Bụ Ahịa. Enugu: Format Publishers Nig. LTD. (WAEC/NECO 20162020).

Abụ akwadoro (Selected Poems)

• Ụwa Ndọlị Ndọlị – 1
•  Ọchịchị – 14
•  Ọnwụ 1 – 16
•  Chi-Ukwu – 20
•  Ire 1 – 22
•  Ozi Ọma – 28
•  Mmụta – 30
•  Ezi Nwaanyị – 36
•  Anyanwụ – 40
•  Akụ – 44
•  Akaraka – 49
•  Ọnwa – 69
•  Akwụkwọ – 71
•  Nwanne – 89

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Compare the poems’ styles and themes.
•  Relate the poets’ ideas to the contents of the poems.
•  Compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the texts/poems.
•  Analyze the structures of the poems.
•  Use what they’ve learned from the poems’ moral lessons in their daily lives.

Drama (Ejije)

• Nwaozuzu G.I. (2005). Nke M Ji ka. Enugu: CIDJAP Press. (WAEC/NECO 20162020).

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Identify types of drama.
• Determine the themes of the texts.
• Identify the storylines.
• Find out the characters in the stories.
• Appreciate the language of the play.
• Evaluate the social issues the playwright brings up.
• Apply acquired knowledge to personal life.

Section C: Institutions and Customs(Ewumewu na Omenala)

Igbo institutions and customs are categorized as follows:

• Ekele dị icheiche: ekele ụtụtụ, ehihie, anyasị, nri, nlakpu, ọrụ dg.
• ịgba alụkwaghịm, Alụmdi na nwunye
• Okupụta nwa, ibi ugwu, ịgụ aha, omụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ.
• Echichi: Ọzọ, Eze/Obi/Igwe/Iyom.
• Ike ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe.
• Ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada.
• Ọgbọ/ebiri/uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ
• Arụ na nsọala: Ihe nsọ – anụ, osisi, ebe, igbu ọchụ.
• Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, Ụmụnna, Ezinaụlọ/Ọchịchị Ọdịnala: Igwe dg.
• ọji na ịtu nzu, itu aha, Nnabata ọbịa dg.
• Ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, ịgọ mmụọ, ofufe.
• Nkwenye: ịdụ isi/ịṅụ iyi, ịgba ndụ, orikọ, dg.
• Akụnaụba: inwe ala, ike ala, ekpe, elulu (ịkpa ọkụkọ, ewu, dg).
• Ikikere mmụọ: ọfọ, ogu, ọtọnsi, okpesi,ikenga.
• Egwuregwu: egwu ọnwa, mgba, ikpọ ụga, ịzụ okwe, ịzụ ǹchò dg.
• Akaọrụ ndị Igbo: ịkụ azụ ịkpụ ụzụ, Ọrụ ugbo, ịzụ ahịa, ịtụ ihe ọtụtụ, dg.

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Describe their society’s customs.
• Ascertain the rules and regulations directing specific facets of the Igbo people’s culture and tradition.
• Describe the significance of the aspects of Igbo culture.
• Spot changes have occurred because of civilization.
• Survey their environment for a better understanding of their culture.

Section D: General and current-events (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua)

• Topical issues on the Igbo language, literature, and culture, e.g., Ahịajiọkụ and Odenigbo lectures.
•  Ọhanaeze Ndị Igbo
•  Igbo literary works’ authors, publishers, publication dates, and locations.
•  Igbo Studies Association (ISA).

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Identify some dates and themes of Ahịajiọkụ and Odenigbo lectures.
• Identify authors and dates of publication of various textbooks in Igbo.
•  Identify companies.
•  Analyze some functions Ọhanaeze ndị Igbo.
•  Learn about the role of the Igbo Studies Association and its contributions (ISA).

Present Issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ)

Note

Item writers should choose topics for comprehension exercises from current events like the following:

• HIV/AIDS (Mmịnwụ/Obirinaajaọcha)
•  Drug Abuse (Ịṅu Ọgwụ Agharaaghara)
•  Cultism (Otu Nzuzo)
•  Women’s and children’s rights (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka)
•  Human Rights Violation (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike)
•  Religious Disagreements (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka)

Objectives

Candidates ought to be capable of the following:

• Acquaint themselves with current issues.
• Examine their effects.
• Suggest remedies to the problems.

PDF Download of JAMB Syllabus For Igbo 2024/2025

You can now download the JAMB Igbo syllabus as you prepare for your exams.

Conclusion

The Igbo syllabus provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) serves as an essential guide, delineating the key topics for focused study in preparation for the impending JAMB examinations.

While it is not guaranteed that 99% of the examination questions will be drawn directly from the syllabus, it remains a critical resource for effective exam preparation.

Candidates are encouraged to download the syllabus in PDF format, available in the post, to facilitate their study process.

Additionally, sharing this resource with peers is highly recommended to aid in achieving outstanding performance in their examinations.