Language no barrier to Franco-Nigeria relations – Ambassador

Mr  Jean-Michel Dumond, the French ambassador to Nigeria, says language poses no barrier to existing bilateral relations between France and Nigeria.

He said at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday in Abuja that relations between the two countries had improved because of considerable efforts made by Nigerians to learn the French language.

“I am not too sure that language is a barrier. I can communicate with the English language. I try to speak a little of English, and we know that there are many Nigerians learning French presently,’’ he said.

The ambassador noted that the learning of the French language had gained tremendous acceptance in Nigeria, adding that there would soon be many teachers of the language across the country.

“In many places, French is taught in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, and I have signed with the Minister of Education in the summer of 2008 a programme for the training of approximately 6,000 teachers who teach French language in Nigeria.

“We have three centres for French teaching and documentation which are based in Enugu for the South-East, Ibadan for South-West and Jos in the north.

“There are regular sessions where professors from the primary level, secondary level, the university and in Badagry, the French Village, are taught to learn how to teach the French language in the best possible conditions,’’ he said.

Dumond said he was confident that the target of having about 6,000 well-trained French language teachers would soon be realised.

“In one year and a half, almost two years since the summer of 2008, we have already been able to train 2,500 professors.

“We hope that by the end of the programme, which I am sure will be renewed, we would have been able to train the 6,000 teachers of French language in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The ambassador said interest in learning the language had also increased, with 15,000 regular French language learners to complement the availability of learning opportunities.

“I can see that there is a real interest in French language. We have also a network of learning places, like the Alliance Francaise all over the territory of Nigeria, approximately 13.

“We have 15,000 students who regularly come to this Alliance Francaise schools to learn French. I think the situation is improving,’’ he said.

Dumond said French educational institutions had been awarding scholarships to Nigerians, not only to learn French, but to study other courses, adding that there were many Nigerian students in France .

“We award scholarships but not only to study French, but in all disciplines. Remember it is for the time being limited, because of the barrier of the language.

“But we have officially 135 Nigerian students in French universities. I mean officially because we know that there are some who come also on private basis in French universities,’’ he said.

The ambassador, however, promised to ensure an improvement in educational relations between the two countries.

“I will make efforts to make the French universities better known in Nigeria and ensure that more students would be able to go to France for studies,’’ he said.