JAMB Igbo Syllabus 2027: Full Topics, Set Texts and Recommended Books

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Last updated: October, 2026

Writing Igbo in the 2027 UTME? The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) syllabus tells you exactly what the examiners can ask, which texts to read, and even which poems and pages to study.

This page lists the four sections of the official JAMB Igbo syllabus (Language, Literature, Customs and Institutions, and General and Current Affairs), the skills you are expected to show, the prescribed texts, and the books JAMB recommends. You will also find a six-week study plan, sample questions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Quick Facts

• Exam: Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), computer-based
• Subject: Igbo
• Syllabus sections: 4 (Asụsụ or Language, Agụmagụ or Literature, Omenala na Ewumewu or Customs and Institutions, Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua or General and Current Affairs)
• Topics: 33 numbered topics (9 in Language, 3 in Literature, 18 in Customs and Institutions, 3 in General Affairs), plus a list of current issues
• Comprehension: one passage of about 150 words
• Set texts: 1 prose text, 1 poetry text with 20 selected poems and their pages, and 1 drama text
• Source: Official JAMB syllabus

In This Guide

1. Aim and objectives of the syllabus
2. The four sections at a glance
3. Detailed syllabus (topics and what you should be able to do)
4. Set texts
5. Recommended textbooks
6. Six-week study plan
7. Sample questions
8. Subject combinations
9. FAQs

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the UTME Igbo syllabus is to prepare candidates for the Board’s examination and test how well they have achieved the course objectives. Candidates are expected to:

• Communicate and read effectively in Igbo.
• Analyse issues in the language.
• Interpret and explain figurative and idiomatic expressions in Igbo.
• Apply Igbo literature to their daily life experiences and demonstrate Igbo cultural values.

The Four Sections at a Glance

• Section A: Languages (Asụsụ) (9 topics): essay, comprehension, sounds and sound patterns, spelling, orthography, dialect and standard Igbo, word derivation, grammar and translation
• Section B: Literature (Agụmagụ) (3 topics): literary devices, oral literature and written literature (prose, poetry and drama)
• Section C: Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu) (18 topics)
• Section D: General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua) (3 topics, plus current issues)

Detailed Syllabus

Section A: Languages (Asụsụ)

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 or arụmarụụka), speech making (ekwumekwu), letter writing (edemleta) and dialogue (mkparịtaụka)
   • You should be able to: identify the basic principles, use words and expressions suited to a topic, differentiate and compare the essay types, describe their characteristics and criticise other people’s essays.
2. Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa)
   • One passage of about 150 words
   • You should be able to: explain the meanings of difficult words, give correct answers, tell figurative from idiomatic expressions and deduce conclusions from the passage.
3. Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ)
   • Vowels (ụdaume) and consonants (mgbochiume)
   • Sound patterns and processes: syllabic nasals, semi-vowels, nasal homorganicity, syllable structure, vowel harmony, vowel assimilation, and vowel and consonant elision
   • Tone and tone marking (ụdaolu na akara ụdaolu)
   • You should be able to: identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals, distinguish the speech sounds of Igbo, divide words into syllables, identify the vowel groups, describe vowel assimilation and elision, and assign tone marks correctly.
4. Spelling and Spelling Rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe)
   • You should be able to: detect words written correctly in Igbo and determine the correct word division.
5. Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo)
   • You should be able to: indicate the Igbo orthography and distinguish it from the English orthography.
6. Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị or Olumba na Igbo Izugbe)
   • You should be able to: differentiate standard Igbo from dialects and use standard Igbo in writing.
7. Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n’Igbo)
   • Processes of word derivation: coinages, loans and loan-blends
   • You should be able to: differentiate loan words from coined words, identify loan words and loan-blends in Igbo, and spell Igbo words correctly.
8. Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ)
   • Parts of speech (nkejiasụsụ): nominals (mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye) and others
   • The structure, types and characteristics of the morpheme (free and bound), the word, the phrase, the clause (nominal, adverbial and adjectival) and the sentence (simple, compound and complex)
   • You should be able to: differentiate the grammatical categories, identify the parts of speech and their functions, tell the types of affixes apart, determine the types of morphemes, and identify words, phrases, clauses and sentences and their characteristics.
9. Translation (Ntụgharị)
   • You should be able to: translate English into Igbo and Igbo into English, and communicate effectively in both languages.

Section B: Literature (Agụmagụ)

1. Literary Devices (Atụmatụokwu)
   • Alliteration (bịambịa mgbochiume), assonance (bịambịa ụdaume), parallelism (kwunkwugha), metaphor (mbụrụ), simile (myiri), hyperbole (egbeokwu), personification (mmemmadụ), proverbs (ilu) and others
   • You should be able to: identify and interpret the devices in passages, differentiate their types and use them appropriately.
2. Oral Literature (Agụmagụ Ọnụ or Agụmagụ Ọdịnala)
   • Folktales (ifo), myths (nkọmịrịkọ), legends (nkọkịrịkọ), poems (abụ), songs (uri), chants (mbem), riddles (agwụgwa), oral drama (ejije ọnụ), tongue-twisters (okwuntụhị) and others
   • You should be able to: create folk stories, chants, riddles and oral drama, analyse the genres, and apply the lessons of oral literature to everyday life.
3. Written Literature (Agụmagụ Ederede)
   • Prose (iduuazị): Jụọ Obinna by Tony U. Ubesie (1993). Oxford University Press.
     • You should be able to: interpret the text, isolate the characters, identify figurative and idiomatic expressions, analyse the text, identify the author, publisher and date, and draw moral lessons.
   • Poetry (abụ): Akọnuche by Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014). Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd. (the 20 selected poems are listed under Set Texts)
     • You should be able to: compare the types and themes of the poems, relate the poet’s ideas to the contents, compare figurative and idiomatic expressions, analyse the structures and apply the moral lessons to daily life.
   • Drama (ejije): Otu Mkpịsị Aka by J. C. Maduekwe (1979). Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa).
     • You should be able to: identify the type of drama, determine the themes, identify the story lines and characters, appreciate the language style, appraise the social problems raised, identify the moral lessons and apply what you have learnt to your own life.

Section C: Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu)

The syllabus lists 18 areas. Candidates should be able to describe the customs of their people, determine the rules guiding specified aspects of Igbo culture and tradition, describe the importance of each aspect, identify the changes that have come with civilization, and explore their environment for a better appreciation of their culture.

1. Ekele dị iche iche: greetings (morning, afternoon, evening, meal times, greeting the sick, greeting on return, greeting at work and others)
2. Alụmdi na nwunye, ịgba alụkwaghịm: marriage and divorce
3. Ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ, ikupụta nwa, ibi ugwu, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze: childbirth and related ceremonies
4. Echichi: title-taking (Nze na Ọzọ, Eze or Obi or Igwe, Iyom or Lọọlọ)
5. Ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe
6. Ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ or ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala: kinship and lineage groups
7. Ọgbọ, ebiri, uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ: age grades, Ohanaeze and the family
8. Arụ na nsọala: abominations and taboos (sacred things, animals, trees and places)
9. Ọchịchị Ọdịnala: traditional government (Igwe or Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, kinsmen, family, ụmụọkpụ or ụmụada, age grade)
10. Nnabata ọbịa, ọji na ịtu nzu, itu aha, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ: welcoming visitors, kolanut and chalk, and related practices
11. Ihe ofufe: forms of worship (ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, ịgọ mmụọ, ofufe)
12. Ngwa ofufe: objects of worship (ọfọ, ikenga, okpesi)
13. Nkwenye: beliefs (oath-taking, covenants, orikọ, ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, dreams, ihi anụ, ịha or ịchụ mmiri and others)
14. Akụnaụba: wealth and property (owning land, ike ala, iri ekpe, elulu)
15. Abamaba: masquerades and cults (mmọnwụ, ọkọnkọ, ekpe, ọmabe, odo, dibịa and others)
16. Egwuregwu: games and sports (mgba or wrestling, egwu ọnwa, ikpọ ọga, ịzụ ǹchọ, ịzụ okwe, ịgba or ịchọ oro and others)
17. Akaọrụ ndị Igbo: occupations (farming, fishing, craft work, trading, hunting, native medicine, pottery and others)
18. Emume: festivals (Ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji or iri ji (new yam), igbu ewu ukwu, iru mgbede, ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgụ afọ and others)

Section D: General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua)

1. Topical Issues in Igbo Language, Literature and Culture
   • Examples: Ahịajiọkụ, the Odenigbo lectures and the Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo lectures
   • You should be able to: identify some dates, themes and functions of Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo and the Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo lectures.
2. Authors, Publishers, Dates and Places of Publication of Works in Igbo
   • You should be able to: identify the authors, publishers and publication dates of Igbo textbooks.
3. Igbo Studies Association (ISA)
   • You should be able to: describe its functions and contributions.

Current issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ): the syllabus says comprehension passages may be chosen from current issues such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and coronavirus, drug abuse, cultism, the rights of women and children, human rights violation and child abuse, religious conflicts and kidnapping. Candidates should be able to acquaint themselves with current issues, examine their effects and suggest remedies.

Set Texts

JAMB prescribes these texts for Igbo literature.

• Prose: Ubesie, T. U. (1993). Jụọ Obinna. Oxford University Press.
• Drama: Maduekwe, J. C. (1979). Otu Mkpịsị Aka. Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa).
• Poetry: Nwadike, I. U. (2014). Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd.

Selected poems from Akọnuche (Abụ Ndị A Họpụtara) with their pages

1. Ọchịchị: pages 18 to 19
2. Onye Ndu: pages 22 to 23
3. Nne Ọma: pages 29 to 30
4. Oke Ọchịchọ: pages 40 to 41
5. Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma: pages 53 to 54
6. Ihe Ụwa: pages 60 to 61
7. Jiri Nwayọ: pages 62 to 63
8. Eziokwu: pages 65 to 66
9. Mma: pages 67 to 69
10. Nwanyị: pages 92 to 94
11. Aja Ala: pages 101 to 103
12. Ala Igbo: pages 108 to 111
13. Ndụ M N’ụwa A: pages 131 to 132
14. Ọjị: pages 150 to 151
15. Ụwa Emebighi: pages 151 to 154
16. Amamihe: pages 168 to 169
17. Ndụ Nwaanyị: pages 178 to 180
18. Nna M Ọgọenyi: pages 181 to 184
19. Ụlọakwụkwọ: pages 192 to 193
20. Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere: pages 249 to 252

Recommended Textbooks

JAMB lists these texts for Igbo:

• 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.

Six-Week Study Plan

• Week 1: Language: essay writing, comprehension, and sounds and tone marking. Read one Igbo passage a day.
• Week 2: Language: spelling, orthography, dialect and standard Igbo, word derivation, grammar and translation.
• Week 3: Literature: literary devices and oral literature, then read Jụọ Obinna.
• Week 4: Literature: study the 20 selected poems in Akọnuche, then read Otu Mkpịsị Aka.
• Week 5: Customs and Institutions (all 18 areas), then General and Current Affairs.
• Week 6: Revise weak topics and practise past questions under timed conditions.

Tips:

• Read all three prescribed texts. For the poetry text, study only the 20 poems and pages JAMB lists.
• For each text, note the characters, themes, story line, moral lessons and figurative expressions.
• Write with the correct tone marks and under-dots, because sound, spelling and orthography questions test them.
• Customs and Institutions has 18 areas, so make a list for each one with key terms and their meanings.
• Read about the current issues in Igbo, because comprehension passages may be drawn from them.
• Use the syllabus objectives as a checklist. If you cannot do what an objective says, you are not ready on that topic.

Sample Questions

1. The comprehension passage in the Igbo syllabus is about how many words long? A. 100 B. 150 C. 200 D. 250 Answer: B
2. The Igbo word for “literature” is A. Asụsụ B. Agụmagụ C. Omenala D. Ntụgharị Answer: B
3. “Ntụgharị” means A. translation B. essay C. grammar D. tone Answer: A
4. Which of the following is the prescribed Igbo prose text? A. Jụọ Obinna B. Akọnuche C. Otu Mkpịsị Aka D. Igbo Kwenu Answer: A
5. Akọnuche by Inno Ụzọma Nwadike is a collection of A. poems B. plays C. novels D. riddles Answer: A

Subject Combinations

Igbo is commonly required for courses such as Igbo, Linguistics, Languages, Education (Igbo), Mass Communication and other Arts courses. Always check your chosen course and university in the JAMB brochure for the exact combination.

Related: JAMB Subject Combination for Arts Students | JAMB Brochure | JAMB Recommended Textbooks for All Subjects | JAMB UTME Registration Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JAMB Igbo syllabus?

It is the official JAMB document that lists the sections, topics, learning objectives and set texts candidates must cover for Igbo in the UTME.

How many sections are in the syllabus?

Four: Languages (Asụsụ), Literature (Agụmagụ), Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu), and General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua).

Which Igbo texts must I read?

Jụọ Obinna by Tony U. Ubesie (prose), Akọnuche by Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (poetry, 20 selected poems) and Otu Mkpịsị Aka by J. C. Maduekwe (drama).

Which poems do I need from Akọnuche?

JAMB lists 20 selected poems with their pages, from “Ọchịchị” on pages 18 to 19 to “Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere” on pages 249 to 252.

What current issues can appear in comprehension?

The syllabus names HIV/AIDS, cancer and coronavirus, drug abuse, cultism, the rights of women and children, human rights violation and child abuse, religious conflicts and kidnapping.

Where can I get past questions for Igbo?

Click here

Check Other JAMB Subject Syllabuses

• All Subjects
• Use of English
• Agriculture Science
• Arabic
• Art
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Christian Religious Studies
• Commerce
• Computer studies
• Economics
• French
• Geography
• Government
• Hausa
• History
• Home-Economics
• Igbo
• Islamic-Studies
• Literature-In-English
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physics
• Physical and Health Education
• Principles of Accounts
• Yoruba