FG to establish French Language clinics in 104 unity schools

The Federal Government says it is working toward establishing French Language Clinics in the 104 Unity Schools in the country.
Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, disclosed this at the inauguration of a French Language Clinic at the Federal Government Boys College, Apo, Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Prof. Anthony Anwuka, the Minister of State for Education, Adamu said the clinic at FGBC was a part of the six French Language clinics used as a pilot project.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other unity schools captured in the first phase of the project are Federal Government College (FGC), Bauchi, and FGC, Warri.
Others are FGC, Enugu; FGC, Kaduna; and FGC, Ikirun, Osun State.
Adamu said: “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 toward establishing French clinic outfits in 104 unity schools across the country and we started with the first six.”
Adamu said the Federal Government was motivated by the need to make French Language the second language of business in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria was bordered by Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin Republic, hence the need for many Nigerians to be proficient in French Language.
In her remarks, Ann Okonkwo, the Director of Basic and Secondary, said the decision to make French language second official Language in Nigeria was taken in 1998.
Okonkwo said equipping the French Language clinics was a collaborative effort of the Federal Government and the French Government.
Earlier, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gaver, at a courtesy visit to the minister, said France was interested in the teaching of French Language in Nigeria.
According to Gaver, many stakeholders in Nigeria have expressed interest in boosting the study of French in the country.
He said: “I have met several governors in Kano, Ogun, Lagos – they all told me that Nigeria’s neighbours are Francophone countries, which are learning English and Nigeria has to learn French.
“We are ready to help as much as we can.
“Presently, we have in Nigeria 10 Alliance Francaise.
“Here in Abuja, we have the French Institute and they all provide courses in the French Language.”
The Ambassador said the French Government was also granting scholarships to Nigerian students to continue their studies in France.
Gaver added that the Embassy also helped in the training of French Language teachers both in Nigeria and in France.
NAN.