The French Government has announced a significant investment of €600,000 in Nigeria to promote French as the country’s second language. The Embassy of France in Nigeria has launched several projects aimed at positioning French as a language of communication in secondary schools and public spaces across the nation.
Emmanuella Blatmann, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, stated that the project’s objective is to strengthen French teachers in the country through the Solidarity Funds for Innovative Projects (FSPI), a special fund established for this purpose. The project, titled “French in Nigeria, language of communication and capacity building,” will receive funding of €600,000 from the FSPI.
The project, symbolized by the slogan “À toi le micro, Naija” (the mic is yours, Naija), aims to establish French as a widely used language in secondary schools and public spaces in Nigeria. It will support the training of secondary school teachers and create a network of media platforms that utilize the French language.
As part of the initiative, a program will be implemented in 50 schools across five states, namely Enugu, Plateau, Oyo, FCT, and Lagos. These schools will benefit from teacher training programs conducted both in France and Nigeria, as well as the provision of books and computer equipment.
The project will also collaborate with five radio stations, including FM and web radio stations, which already broadcast content in French in Nigeria. These radio stations will work together with the pilot schools to further promote the French language.
Additionally, educational programs will be developed to provide opportunities for adults and children to practice French in innovative ways. Schools will offer podcast creation workshops, enabling learners to develop computer and transversal skills.
The fund will also be utilized to establish a modern resource center within the Nigerian French Language Village in Badagry. This inter-university facility will serve as a model center for teacher training. Furthermore, a partnership will be established with the University of Caen, a French institution specializing in teaching French as a foreign language.
This significant investment from the French Government demonstrates their commitment to promoting the French language in Nigeria and fostering educational cooperation between the two countries.
The projects initiated by the Embassy of France in Nigeria aim to enhance language skills and create an enabling environment for the widespread use of French in Nigerian schools and public spaces.
Edited by Damilola Adeleke
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