The French Embassy in Nigeria has expressed its commitment to collaborating with tertiary institutions to enhance the opportunities linked to studying French.
Speaking at a seminar titled “French Up Your Career” in Port Harcourt, the Consul General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, highlighted the global relevance of French as an official language of international organisations, including the United Nations and the African Union. He emphasised that fluency in French could provide a competitive advantage in various career fields, from diplomacy to technology.
“The ability to speak French extends beyond adding a language to one’s résumé, it opens doors to opportunities in international relations, journalism, translation, and even tech industries seeking bilingual professionals,” Favier stated.
The French Embassy, he added, is not only focused on promoting the language but also supporting teacher training and enhancing university curricula to make language education more practical and career-oriented.
During the event, the Director of Alliance Française in Port Harcourt, Marina Lacal, reiterated that the conference aimed to showcase the professional benefits of learning French.
Meanwhile, Dr Gloria Okon, an associate professor at the University of Calabar, called on the National Universities Commission to reinstate French for specific disciplines such as medicine, law, and business, arguing that its removal from the curriculum was a significant oversight.
Magaly Losange, a French Embassy language expert, also stressed the need for a modernised teaching approach, advocating for the use of interactive methods and ICT tools to improve fluency.
The seminar, attended by students from Rivers State University, the University of Port Harcourt, and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, featured musical and dance performances in French, celebrating the ongoing French Language Week.
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