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While monolingual dictionaries of African languages are being developed and published, Nigeria, after more than a century of linguistic endeavours, cannot boast of any such publications, as bilingual dictionaries still dominate the field. This study provides a much needed historic survey of Igbo dictionary work, briefly considers the local linguistic policy adopted and its consequences, and pleads in favour of the production of monolingual dictionaries that will benefit from the established relationship between the Nigerian educational sector and its Diaspora.