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From Isaac Job, Uyo
A University of Uyo Lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages Prof. Richard Ajah, has been elected President, University French Teachers’ in Nigeria (UFTAN) as the association is listed to benefit from TETfund funding.
Speaking in Uyo ,Akwa Ibom state capital after his inauguration , Prof. Ajah said the election was held during the 26th conference and Annual General meeting of the Association held on Awka , Anambra state .
Ajah explained that the conference and the AGM had its theme “French Language and Employability” with keynote address delivered by Professor (Mrs.) Eugenia Mbanefo of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike while representatives of the university’s management as well as Mr Henry Feyi of French Embassy in Nigeria .
“The Director of the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV), Professor Oladipo Samuel Kolawole, and several distinguished guests also graced the occasion.”
According to Prof. Ajah, other elected executives at the conference include; Vice President: Professor Busari Lasisi, Secretary: Dr. Gracious Ojiebun, Public Relations Officer: Dr. Terry Osawaru, Financial Secretary: Dr. Esther Michael, Treasurer: Dr. Shola Oguntola, Editor: Professor Ngozi Iloh, and Ex-Officio: Professor Mufutau Tijani who is the Immediate Past President.
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He said French teachers in Nigerian Universities have expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria and TETFUND for re-enlisting the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, among its beneficiary institutions.
“French Language teachers have commended French Embassy in Nigeria for the Embassy’s Fund (FEF) Project and its proposed establishment of French Resource Centres in several Departments and Units of French across Nigerian tertiary institutions”.
Ajah said French teachers lamented listing of French language as an optional subject in primary and secondary schools by the Federal Ministry of Education under its National Education Sector Reform Initiatives (NESRI).
However, the teachers called on Federal Government of Nigeria to review the new policy in view of the country’s geographical location and the place of French language in the sub region and global community.
Meanwhile President elect has promised to encourage and promote teaching of French language a build capacity of resource persons in the study of French language.
” I promise to reinforce the promotion of French language, reinvigorate capacity building and mentoring for UFTAN members, and strengthen engagements and partnerships with embassies, international organizations, and Francophone African universities among others.”
