Oluwatosin Enesi
A bill to create the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages passed its first reading on Thursday, October 9.
The bill, which is sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and eight other lawmakers, aims to establish a federal institution that would focus on advancing education in Nigerian languages and cultures.
Speaking on the importance of the bill, Kalu explained, “This university will foster the learning and preservation of our diverse Nigerian languages, ensuring future generations have access to their rich linguistic heritage.
“It is a step toward strengthening national unity through language.”
The bill outlines the university’s mandate to provide opportunities for all Nigerians to acquire higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures without discrimination.
Section II of the bill emphasizes that the institution would encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons, without distinction of race, creed, sex, or political conviction, the opportunity to acquire higher education in Nigerian languages, The Punch reported.
It also aims to develop academic and professional programs that will produce graduates with “adaptive, developmental, and productive skills in the field of Nigerian languages and cultures.”
Kalu added: “We need to safeguard our linguistic diversity.” Varsity to promote research and collaboration in Nigerian languages.
The proposed university would also serve as a research hub for Nigerian languages and cultures, conducting outreach programs, in-service training, and fostering collaborations with other institutions involved in language research and development.
The bill provides that the university will act as an agent of national development through postgraduate training, research, and innovation.
In his statement, Kalu said, “This institution will play a key role in developing high-caliber Nigerian language professionals who can provide consultancy services and lead groundbreaking research to further promote indigenous languages.”
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