About Ndịokwu

Before my tenure at Meta, I confronted a pivotal challenge: mastering discrete mathematics to navigate the demanding landscape of technical interviews. This discipline, foundational to computer science, encompasses areas like logic, set theory, graph theory, and combinatorics. Its principles are instrumental in algorithm design, data structures, and cryptography, making it indispensable for software engineers.

Immersing myself in discrete mathematics reshaped my cognitive framework. I began to perceive mathematical notation not merely as symbols but as a concise language capable of conveying complex ideas with precision. For instance, the summation symbol (∑) succinctly represents iterative processes, embodying loops and conditions in a single character. This realization deepened my appreciation for functional programming, a paradigm that emphasizes pure functions, immutability, and declarative code—attributes that align closely with mathematical logic and reduce the likelihood of errors.

"Inspired by these insights, I set out to develop the Ndịokwu Igbo Abugida—a writing system tailored for the Igbo language."

Concurrently, I embarked on learning Mandarin Chinese, drawn by its structural elegance. Mandarin comprises approximately 409 distinct syllables, but when combined with its tonal system—four primary tones and a neutral tone—the language achieves a rich tapestry of meanings. This "sound-efficient, tone-rich" nature intrigued me, especially given my familiarity with Igbo, another tonal language. However, unlike Mandarin, Igbo lacked a comprehensive indigenous writing system.

Historically, the Igbo people utilized Nsibidi, an ideographic script originating around 400 CE among the Ejagham people and later adopted by neighboring cultures, including the Igbo. Nsibidi conveyed concepts through symbols, often used in rituals and secret societies, but it wasn't a full-fledged writing system for daily communication. In 2009, Lotanna Igwe-Odunze introduced Ńdébé, a modern script inspired by traditional Igbo designs. While Ńdébé represents a significant step towards a functional Igbo writing system, its adoption has been limited, and its complexity posed challenges for learners.

My exploration led me to the Vai syllabary, devised in the 1830s by Momolu Duwalu Bukele of Liberia. Remarkably, Bukele reported that the script was revealed to him in a dream. The Vai script is a syllabary, with each character representing a syllable, and it facilitated literacy among the Vai people, who used it for various purposes, including correspondence and record-keeping. The success of the Vai syllabary demonstrated the potential of indigenous scripts to empower communities linguistically and culturally.

Inspired by these insights, I set out to develop the Ndịokwu Igbo Abugida—a writing system tailored for the Igbo language. An abugida strikes a balance between alphabets and syllabaries, where each character denotes a consonant-vowel combination, and diacritics modify the inherent vowel. This structure offers a compromise between the learning curve of alphabets and the reading efficiency of syllabaries.

In crafting Ndịokwu, I prioritized:

• Efficiency: Streamlining the learning process by reducing the number of characters without sacrificing expressiveness.
• Clarity: Ensuring each symbol is distinct and intuitive, minimizing ambiguity.
• Cultural Resonance: Drawing inspiration from traditional Igbo motifs to foster a sense of identity and continuity.

"Ndịokwu aspires to provide Igbo speakers with a script that is not only functional but also a source of pride—a tool that honors our heritage while embracing the future."

Much like software development, creating a writing system demands intentionality and user-centric design. Ndịokwu aspires to provide Igbo speakers with a script that is not only functional but also a source of pride—a tool that honors our heritage while embracing the future.