By Chijioke Okoronkwo,
In 1998, the Federal Government adopted French as the second official language of Nigeria.
At that time, the government said that the decision was informed by the need to boost Nigeria’s socio-political and economic relations with its neighbouring countries, which are all Francophone.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
It stressed that the web of globalisation no longer accommodated language barriers in the international arena.
Nevertheless, stakeholders insist that such pronouncements on the importance of learning French have not been met with corresponding efforts aimed at teaching and learning the language.
As part of designed efforts to straighten things out, the Federal Government recently endorsed the establishment of French Language clinics in all the 104 unity colleges across the country.
Speaking at the inauguration of the first phase of the project at Federal Government Boys College (FGBC), Apo, Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, said that the clinic at FGBC was one of the six French Language clinics established under the pilot project.
The minister, who was represented by Prof. Anthony Anwuka, the Minister of State for Education, said that other unity schools captured in the first phase of the project included Federal Government College (FGC), Bauchi and FGC, Warri.
Others are FGC, Enugu, FGC, Kaduna and FGC, Ikirun, Osun State.
“So far, Nigeria has demonstrated the enthusiasm to foster the teaching and learning of French through our various schools, both at the basic and tertiary levels.
“Our main concern is the training of efficient number of French teachers within our school system.
“I note that the French Government has been rendering some level of assistance to our French Language school in Badagry.
“The Ministry is geared towards establishing French Language clinics in all the 104 unity schools across the country and we started with the first six schools.’’
Adamu said that the Federal Government was motivated by the need to make French Language the second language of business in Nigeria.
He said that Nigeria shared borders with Cameroun, Niger, Chad, Benin Republic; adding that the fact explained the need for many Nigerians to be proficient in French language use.
The minister said that since Nigeria adopted French as its second official language, the Federal Ministry of Education had, through the Nigeria French Language Project (NFLP), implemented two French Language projects.
Adamu said that the third French Language project, which commenced in May 2015, was very much on course.
He said that the various initiatives of the French Government under the first and second projects, led to the establishment and equipping of three Centres for French Teaching and Documentation (CFTD) in Enugu, Jos and Ibadan.
He listed the benefits of the French Language programme as provision of instructional materials, effective networking of six federal universities, 18 colleges of education and 146 other pilot institutions nationwide, among others.
Besides, the minister said that over 4,000 French teachers, examiners and inspectors had been trained in Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Togo and France under the programme.
“In the 21st Century civilisation, being multi-lingual is an asset; as it helps one to operate more effectively in a society that is becoming more and more fraternal but still recognises the importance of language and cultural identity.
“Nigeria and France have come a long way in their relationship, which is built on mutual respect, cooperation and shared interests.
“The Ministry shall continue to demonstrate its commitment to the teaching and learning of French Language at all levels of education in Nigeria.
“It is for this reason that, as part of our goal of transforming the education sector, the curriculum encourages the study and mastery of other languages, especially French,’’ he added.
Adamu said that the mastery of French Language would give Nigerian graduates greater advantages and greater mobility in the international labour market.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Ann Okonkwo, the Director of Basic and Secondary Education in Federal Ministry of Education, recalled that the decision to make French language the second official language of Nigeria was taken as far back as 1998.
She said that the Federal Government and the French Government had been collaborating in efforts to equip the French Language clinics.
Okonkwo commended the French Government for its support for the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV), Badagry, the Regional Network of French Language Centres in Africa (RECFLEA), the Association of French Language Teachers and other activities in the country.
“The ministry shall continue to demonstrate its commitment to the teaching and learning of the French Language at all levels of education in Nigeria.
“A Centre for French Teaching and Information has been created in the ministry for proper coordination of French language teaching efforts.
“French lessons for staff of the ministry have also commenced.
“The Centre for French for the South-East zone, located in Ebonyi State, and that of the North-East zone, located in Bauchi State, have been equipped by the ministry.
“Nigeria is working assiduously to join the International Organisation of Francophone Countries,’’ she added.
In his remarks, Mr Jonathan Mbaakaa, the Principal of FGBC, Apo, said that the objective of setting up the French Language clinics was to equip the students to be well-rounded, as they entered higher institutions and the increasingly competitive labour market.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Education and the French Government for nurturing the project into fruition and for selecting FGBC, Apo, for its inauguration.
In his remark, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denys Gaver, said that France was interested in the teaching of French Language in Nigeria.
He noted that many stakeholders in Nigeria had expressed their interest in boosting the study of French in the country.
“I have met several governors, including the governors of Kano, Ogun, Lagos, and they all told me that Nigeria’s neighbours, who are Francophone countries, are learning English and so, Nigeria has to learn English.
“Some days ago, I met the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and he told me that Nigeria needed to cooperate with its neighbours; so he has decided that French will be made compulsory in all military examinations.
“I also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and he told that he want to make French Language mandatory.
“We are ready to help as much as we can; presently, we have 10 Alliance Francaise (French Language study centres) in Nigeria; here in Abuja, we have the French Institute and they all provide courses in French Language,’’ he said.
Besides, the ambassador said that French Government was also granting scholarships to Nigerian students to continue their studies in France.
Gaver said that the French Embassy had also facilitated the training of French Language teachers both in Nigeria and in France.
Analysts underscore the need for Nigeria to strengthen its efforts to use French Language as it second official language in a pragmatic way.
With the increasing inter-dependence of nations on one another, it has become imperative for Nigeria to take the learning of French Language, spoken in more than 40 countries, seriously, they say. (NANFeatures)