Port Harcourt is set to become a hub for bilingual career advancement as the Alliance Française hosts “French Up Your Career” on March 19, 2025. The seminar, is part of the French Language Week celebrations, will bring together students, educators, and professionals to explore how proficiency in French can enhance job opportunities and academic success.

As Nigeria’s National Policy on Education recognizes French as the country’s second official language, the demand for bilingual professionals is growing. To meet this need, the French Embassy in Nigeria launched the project Developing the Employability of Young People in Nigeria through Specialized French. This initiative aims to develop tailored language programs in universities and foster partnerships with businesses that value bilingualism.

Following a successful edition in Lagos last October, which gathered students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan, Lagos State University (LASU), and Badagry French Language Village, the event now arrives in Port Harcourt. This edition is expected to attract 150 participants, including students from universities, learners at Alliance Française Port Harcourt, and French teachers from Rivers State.

Marina Lacal, Director of Alliance Française Port Harcourt, emphasized the importance of the seminar in equipping young Nigerians with skills to stand out in the job market. “The ability to speak French is a powerful asset, especially in a country like Nigeria, which shares borders with several Francophone nations. This event will highlight the real-world value of bilingualism in business, diplomacy, and education.”

The seminar will feature a dynamic program, including panel discussions with professionals who use French in their careers, an inter-university eloquence competition, and an information booth offering insights on language certifications and study opportunities in France. Companies that promote the use of French among their employees will also present their policies, shedding light on how bilingualism enhances career prospects.

For over four decades, Alliance Française Port Harcourt has been at the forefront of French language promotion in Rivers State. As part of a global network spanning 135 countries, it offers French courses for individuals and businesses, as well as internationally recognized certifications such as DELF, DALF, TCF, and TEF. The institution also plays a crucial role in supporting schools and university language departments.

Campus France Nigeria, another key partner, will be present to provide guidance to students interested in higher education opportunities in France. As a service of the French Embassy, Campus France supports student mobility, manages scholarship programs, and connects Nigerian students with French universities.

The event will be graced by the presence of the Consul General of France, along with representatives from academia and the private sector, reinforcing the significance of bilingualism in Nigeria’s economic and educational landscape.

With growing global demand for multilingual professionals, “French Up Your Career” aims to inspire young Nigerians to harness their language skills for a competitive edge in the workforce.

For more information, interested participants can contact Alliance Française Port Harcourt at reception.phc@af-nigeria.org

The Alliance Française, Port Harcourt on Monday presented An activity tagged “Badass” to mark the 2025 International Women’s Rights Day, with the theme “For All Women and Girls Rights, Equality and Empowerment.”

The event which was held at the Alliance Française main hall had no fewer than 83 children from three schools who participated in the exhibition which tell stories of 10 Modern Heroines.

A cross section of children that participated in the International women’s Rights Day Celebration at the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt.

According to the Director of the Alliance Française, Marina Lacal the event which started from March 8 to celebrate the International Women’s Rights Day would end this weekend.

She noted that the initiative highlighted the commitment of the Alliance Française to promoting gender equality, empowering women and encouraging young audiences to challenge stereotypes and reconsider the presentation of women in popular culture.

Mrs Lacal further explained that most of the comics hero (Ine)s stories depicted the male gender , such as the Superman, Spiderman and others. So the Alliance Française Port Harcourt thought it wise to came up with female related
Comics to celebrate the ‘Day.’

” We decided to put this together to enable the girl child relate with, a heroinic character that can inspire them as they make choices and decisions in life,” she added.

The Tide News reports that the word ‘Badass’
is referred to independent free- spirited characters who are not afraid to take risks, fail or ask for help in course of reaching their goals. They are bold, intelligent, independent, brave and determined to shape their destinies.

The exhibition which was a celebration of Strong Heroines, was inspired by the Hero(Ine)s project by the Lyon BD Festival and paid tribute to ten iconic female comic book characters that defied traditional stereotypes.

Through their stories, they inspired younger generations and showcased the diverse journeys of women.Objectives of the Exhibition Highlighted the evolution of female characters in comic books.Encouraged critical thinking among young audiences about gender equality and representation.while it created a platform for discussion on women’s rights, empowerment, and education.

Meanwhile, the event witnessed 83 children from six schools—Hopespring Foundation School, Cornerstone International School, Avidminds International School, Virgo Praedicanda International School, Pleroma International School, and Vine International School—participated in guided tours.

These tours included discussions on comics, gender equality, and the importance of strong female role models.During the tours, students also expanded their French vocabulary, learning adjectives to describe the heroines featured in the exhibition: Courageuse – Courageous, Ambitieuse – Ambitious, Empathique – Empathetic, Curieuse – Curious, Intelligente – Intelligent, Déterminée – Determined.

The climax of the event was the part where the , children had the opportunity to draw their own superheroine and choose their favorite French adjective to describe her. The drawings were added to an exhibition board, extending the exhibition’s reach.

Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.