UFTAN

Readings in Languages and Literature: a book in honour of Prof. Adebisi edited by Tunde Ayeleru, Simon Olayiwola and Richard Ajah (2023)

University French Teachers Association of Nigeria (UFTAN), on 14th October, 2019, held her 22nd Annual Conference /Annual General Meeting at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, with focus on Regional Security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Role of French Language. President of UFTAN, Prof. Austin Moye, at the courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, at VC’s Conference Room, appreciated VC for receiving the association and approving the hosting of their 22nd Conference/AGM at AE-FUNAI, applauding him and management of the University for the visible transformation, going on in the campus, which he said was happening as a result of the visionary leadership Prof. Nwajiuba is providing. He iterated that the annual conference would focus on the positive role the French language and its teachers can play, to ensure effectiveness in learning the language and applying it as means for maintaining peace in our sub-Region. Prof. Moye, further said that they (UFTAN) would call on the Embassies of Francophone countries in Nigeria, to consider the propagation of French in Nigeria, as a worthy venture that merits their support by way of donation of academic textbooks and other materials, which could be sent to the library of the Nigerian French Language Village in Badagry. He further said that UFTAN is delighted to know that VC encourages his students to be proficient in French language and that AE-FUNAI is the only University in Nigeria that runs an efficient French Language Centre (FLC), where staff and students go, with enthusiasm, to learn French. Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr Onyebuchi Chima, who was present at the courtesy call said that the State Ministry of Education is currently engaged in a training exercise for language  teachers and seeks the assistance of the University. He further said he would like to synergise with AE-FUNAI French Centre to introduce what he called ‘International Desk Office’ that will be in charge of  French, German and Chinese languages, concluding that he seeks the full support and collaboration of the University management, especially the VC. Other Officers of UFTAN present at the courtesy call include Prof. Doris Obieje, Vice President, Dr. Ngozi Iloh, Secretary, Prof. Victor Aire, Past President, Prof. Union Edebiri (OFN), Fellow, Prof. Kester Echenim, Fellow and Chairman Board of Trustees and Dr. Laditan, Ag. Director, French Village, Badagry. Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Romanus Ejiaga welcomed the officers of UFTAN, saying that he was excited that the 22nd Conference/ AGM  was holding at AE-FUNAI. Prof. Ejiaga also informed VC, the guests and other University Officers present at the event, that a new program(Linguistics/French) will be introduced before end of the month of October, 2019. Vice chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, in his welcome remarks, thanked UFTAN for holding the Conference in AE-FUNAI, stating that the University will also be ready to host next UFTAN Conference, come 2020, if the association oblige. He confirmed that AE-FUNAI runs  a compulsory French GST Course for all students, to encourage the effectiveness of learning the language and that the University will continue to sponsor lecturers in the university on Post-Graduate studies abroad, France specifically. Keynote Speaker, Prof. Samuel Ade-Ojo, in his presentation on the theme: The Challenges of Promoting Regional Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: The French Language Perspective, reiterated that individual universities and NUC must be concerned with the need to upgrade the curriculum to produce French Graduates who will be employable, appointable to positions in relevant government ministries and parastatals as well as in multinational companies and international organizations. Prof. Ade-Ojo further stressed the importance of computer literacy for French students to be reviewed in the curriculum and he adduced that students who have bilingual status have better job advantage in job selection in their professional practice over their monolingual professional colleagues. He, above all, emphasized the impact French language teachers and the language itself can make in achieving unity, peace and stability within West Africa and Africa in general. Lead paper was presented by Prof. Victor Aire of university of Jos. Well attended by over 140 participants from 30 universities in Nigeria. The following highly esteemed personalities were awarded Fellowship of the University French Teachers Association of Nigeria (FUFTAN), at the Conference/AGM: Prof. Raufu Adebisi, Prof. CyriL Mokwenye, Prof. Vincent Okeke (Post mortem), and Prof. Tar Adejir. An interview and conclusion speech from the UFTAN president, Prof. Austin Moye said that the conference went very smoothly and in terms of logistics, AE-FUNAI did very well with commendations from the participants. He added that at the closing dinner the communique will be read to the general for endorsement. He equally said the conference is held annually and any University wishing to host will have to bid for it. Speaking further he appreciated AE-FUNAI for the hospitality UFTAN members received from the university and awarded 98 percent to AE-FUNAI for a wonderful organization. The Conference/AGM, came to an end on Wednesday 16th October, 2019 with a dinner get together at the NEEDS Assessment Building coordinated by the President of the Association, Prof. A. Moye, who announced that the next conference would be hosted in October, 2020, at the University of Calabar. Conference Communique was presented by Dr. Marinus Yong, a senior Lecturer and Head of French Unit, AE-FUNAI, as follows; Government should review its recruitment policies to include at least DELF A2 Proficiency French language Certificate for all security officers; UFTAN decries the continuous insecurity, leading to loss of life and property and opportunity for children attending schools, calling on the government to ensure the safety of all; The French Embassy should be fair in selection of teachers at all levels for training in France. Nigerian Teachers of French Language should be given topmost priority above Francophone teachers of French; UFTAN calls on the National Universities Commission to ensure that French language is taught in all Nigerian Universities as general studies course as contained in the benchmark for minimum academic standards; UFTAN strongly urges all departments of French in all Nigerian Universities to continue to send their students to the Nigerian French Language village, Badagry