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…Lauds minister over TetFund’s intervention
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Abia State over the weekend matriculated 147 students for her 2025/26 degree programmes.
Speaking at the 8th matriculation ceremony, Executive Director of NINLAN, Prof Ogbonna Onuoha commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa for ensuring that the institute and other Inter-University Centres benefit from TetFund interventions.
Prof Onuoha who stated that the interventions have significantly strengthened their capacity to deliver on their mandate, equally applauded the Minister for not only giving approval for the construction of a modern students’ hostel, but also for providing the institute with a 30 – seater coaster bus which he said will enhance staff mobility, productivity and operational efficiency.
The Executive Director also commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu and Governor Alex Otti for their interventions which he said has tremendously helped the institute to grow.
“The Executive Secretary of TETFUND deserves NINLAN’S gratitude for the Fund’s handling of her TETFUND projects and assessment of its requests. The intervention of the Fund in tertiary institutions is the major reason why most Nigerian tertiary institutions are still functioning and alive today”.
Prof Onuoha disclosed that one of the greatest achievements of the institute was its affiliation with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, following the approval of the National Universities Commission to run full-time degree programmes.
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“Beginning from the 2024/2025 academic session, our degree programmes including Early Childhood Education, Business Education, Library and Information Science, Igbo and Community Studies, Igbo Language Education, Linguistics and Mass Communication, are being offered in affiliation with Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
“This partnership guarantees that our programmes meet nationally approved academic standards while providing our students with qualifications that are legal and widely recognized”.
Onuoha stated that NINLAN occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s educational landscape, adding that as the nation’s premier institution dedicated exclusively to Nigerian languages and cultures, its mandate extends beyond teaching.
He reminded that as many indigenous languages across the world continue to face the threat of extinction, the responsibility entrusted to NINLAN to preserve, develop, and revitalize Nigeria’s languages has become more critical than ever before.
“We are committed to the documentation, preservation, development, and promotion of Nigeria’s rich linguistic heritage while advancing multilingual education, research and cultural preservation”.
He urged the matriculating students not to allow their years at NINLAN to merely end in the award of degree, but they should be transformed into disciplined, responsible, and innovative leaders capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.
The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede commended the management of NINLAN for its giant stride over the years.
Represented by the Abia State coordinator of JAMB, Celestine Agoziem, Prof Oloyede informed that candidates pursuing NCE programmes at NINLAN need not sit for JAMB in line with the new rules.
