The Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV), Badagry, has called on the government to enforce its directives requiring French students in Nigerian universities to undertake their mandatory language immersion programme at the institution instead of unaccredited centres outside the country.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with Heads of French Departments from universities nationwide, the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NFLV, Prof. Samuel Kolawole, said stronger government support was needed to reposition French studies and improve graduates’ employability.
”French students must be mandated to come to French Village Badagry because it has been the directive of the Nigerian government. Universities should stop sending students to unrecognised institutions across the borders.” he reiterated.
Kolawole said the Village was reviewing its curriculum to combine French language studies with entrepreneurship and practical skills in tourism, hospitality, interpretation, management and related fields.
”We are producing students for employability, not just to learn French. The language must be useful in their daily lives and careers.”
He added that French had become increasingly important to Nigeria’s diplomacy, security, trade and regional integration, stressing that stronger collaborations between the NFLV and universities was essential to produce globally competitive graduates.
Chairman of the Governing Council of the NFLV, Alhaji Labiru Kafur, described the institution as Nigeria’s only inter-university French immersion centre, noting that its graduates serve in diplomacy, security agencies, education and other sectors.
A participant, Prof. Laditan Omolegbe, called for a review of university French curricula to emphasise professional and entrepreneurial skills.
”The world is evolving, and we need diplomats, journalists and other professionals who are proficient in both English and French,” he said.
During the meeting, the NFLV also honoured outstanding participants of the 2025/2026 Language Immersion Programme with scholarships, cash prizes and awards.
More than 700 students from 45 universities completed the six-month programme, with Ahmad Ibrahim of Abia State University emerging as the overall best graduating student.
He received ₦200,000 from the member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Mr. Sesi Whingan, an additional ₦100,000 from philanthropist Zakari Adamu, and a scholarship covering half of his next semester’s tuition.
The institution also recognised outstanding students across the programme’s nine courses, while Miss Taiwo Mabel Monate of Olabisi Onabanjo University received ₦250,000 as the best-performing student of Badagry origin.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of Ọlọrundamilola Olorunsogo of the University of Ilorin and Haderi Simple of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who won the Worldwide Bilingual Series Africa Award organised by Alliance Française, securing a ₦1 million prize for the Nigeria French Language Village.
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