UNICAL Scholar Advocates French as Nigeria’s Second Official Language
By Benjamin GBOR
A Professor of Francophone Literature and Development Studies at the University of Calabar, Prof. Bassey Oben, has urged the Federal Government to adopt French as Nigeria’s second official language, stating that the move would boost young people’s interest in learning the language.
Oben made the call while delivering the institution’s 159th inaugural lecture at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre. The lecture, titled “Nigeria, the Curse of Babel and the Blessing of Space: Let French Resolve the Dilemma,” examined the role of language in national development and global integration.
He explained that for the policy to succeed, governments at all levels must prioritise adequate funding for the training and retraining of French teachers across the education sector, noting that teacher capacity is key to effective implementation.
The professor also called for the restoration of scholarships and bursaries for students studying French in universities and colleges of education, alongside the promotion of language immersion programmes to attract more youths to the discipline.
Oben further recommended that universities introduce basic French courses across all academic programmes, saying such exposure would broaden students’ competencies and enhance their competitiveness in the global job market. He urged the University of Calabar to take the lead in implementing the initiative.
He advised parents to guide their children, especially those in the arts and social sciences, towards studying foreign languages. He also appealed to the university management to consider redirecting candidates who are unable to secure admission into their preferred courses to foreign language programmes where appropriate.
In addition, Oben proposed that government signage and official communications in English should be complemented with French translations to promote bilingual communication, a practice he noted is common in developed countries.
He also encouraged educators and French speakers in public institutions to promote the language through French clubs, debates and media engagements to sustain students’ interest.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, in his remarks, supported the proposal, describing the lecture as timely and strategic. He added that the university’s French Centre would be made accessible to staff interested in learning the language.
