By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has welcomed the Bilingual and Competitive Project of the French Embassy in Nigeria and pledged that the University will actively participate in the initiative.
Prof. Egbewole gave the assurance last Thursday (August 21, 2025) when he received the Linguistic Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Mrs. Magaly Losange, who visited him.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, observed that while French speakers often make deliberate efforts to communicate in English, many Anglophone speakers struggle to speak French.
He attributed this gap to the methods by which French was taught in earlier times. According to him, the University of Ilorin has changed that narrative by adopting a new teaching model that prioritises practical learning and effective communication.
Prof. Egbewole expressed confidence that the University of Ilorin would be among the selected institutions, noting that the University consistently stays ahead of its peers. He stated that the institution’s stable academic calendar, which has made it a preferred choice for applicants, as well as its commitment to academic excellence, would place UNILORIN in good stead.
Speaking earlier, the Linguistic Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Mrs. Losange, said that the Bilingual and Competitive project is designed to support the creation of Digital Resource Centers in Nigerian universities, pointing out that it seeks to improve the teaching and learning of the French language, develop students’ transversal skills, and enhance employability by strengthening both digital and linguistic capabilities.
Mrs. Losange, who doubles as the Deputy Director of the Institut Français du Nigeria, said participating institutions are expected to propose innovative strategies that reflect their commitment to strengthening French language education as part of the project. He added that the initiative aims at empowering young people through improved methods of teaching French, with a strong focus on practical skills such as speaking and listening beyond traditional phonetics and translation approaches.
She disclosed that the University of Ilorin was the third institution to apply for the project out of 52 applications received across the country, adding that applications will undergo a transparent professional screening process involving representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and European international organisations. At the conclusion of the process, 15 institutions will be selected to benefit from the programme.
The Linguistic Cooperation Attaché said that the project would also support institutions that demonstrate genuine commitment to advancing French studies. He added that teachers interested in moving towards “French as a second language” teaching methodology will be offered specialised training and expertise under the programme.
