HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT 

The Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages was established as one of the foundation departments in the Faculty of Arts in 1976.  The department houses four programmes namely: Linguistics, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.  Currently, only Linguistics and Yoruba programmes are in full operation.         
                              
The main objective of the Linguistics and Yoruba Programmes is to produce at the end of the stipulated period of study in the University, well trained graduates of Linguistics and Yoruba who have the academic expertise to contribute to the manpower needs of the nation and the global community in the Public and private sectors of the economy.  Our goal is that our graduates, will not only be able to take jobs in teaching, translation, broadcasting, journalism, publishing houses and the civil service and effectively demonstrate their linguistic and literary skills, they will be able to generate some level of employment for themselves.       
                           
The Department was established on a sound academic level by the foundation Head of the Department Professor Oladele Awobuluyi along with other distinguished Professors and members of staff. Since then, the staff strength has variously grown and dropped to the present twenty-four lecturers. These staff members are engaged in the teaching of Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Linguistics to Undergraduates and Postgraduate students of both disciplines.  They also teach the Remedial and Sandwich students.                 
                              
The core undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Yoruba include Yoruba Syntax, Phonology, and Yoruba literature - oral and written, culture, Yoruba in broadcasting and Advertising and the three genres of drama, prose and poetry, while Linguistics programme covers the two major areas of theoretical and apply linguistics.

One of the main objectives of the Department is to help train the manpower needed for the successful implementation of the National Policy on Education (NPE), and wish that the other two major indigenous languages in the country be taught and learnt on a large scale outside their individual geographical zones. Hence, the Department, in addition to Yoruba that was one of the foundation programmes in the Department now runs degree programmes in Hausa and Igbo since 2015. It is also the intention of the Department that students that register for a degree in Yoruba be advised to select either Hausa or Igbo as one of their minors and vice versa.

Philosophy of the Programme

The philosophy of the degree programme in Linguistics is to train students to acquire academic excellence and competence in Linguistics scholarship, and the use of Linguistic principles, through the provision of conducive atmosphere for both staff and students to carry out academic research and development.  The (Linguistics) courses are designed to cover the most basic areas of theoretical and applied linguistics and literary studies, so that our students will have a balanced knowledge of linguistics and language related applications.  The department offers some courses in linguistics that meet the needs of some other language - based departments like Arabic, English, French, and Arts and Social Science Education. 

Objectives of the Programme

The main objective of the Linguistics programme is to produce at the end of the stipulated period of study in the University, well trained graduate of Linguistics who have the academic expertise to contribute to the manpower needs of the nation both in the public and private sectors of economy.  The goal is that when they graduate, they will not only be able to take jobs in teaching, translation, broadcasting, journalism, publishing houses and the civil service and effectively demonstrate their linguistic and literary skills, they will be able to create some level of employment for themselves.  The form of training given in the department thus involves, specified numbers of lecture hours, tutorials, tests and examination for each course.  In the final year, the students carry out a project work on a topic of genuine academic interest, and submit 4 copies of the project to the Department.   Both final year examinations and projects are thoroughly assessed by reputable linguists, as external examiners.  One other major objective of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages is to train the manpower needed for successfully implementing the laudable objectives of the Nigerian National Language Policy which stipulates that the three major Nigerian Languages, Hausa, Igbo and Yorùbá be taught in all Secondary Schools in Nigeria.

Other objectives are to encourage interested and talented students towards higher degree and research with possible prospects for academic career; to foster research activities among staff of the department through seminars, learned conferences and workshops.  Members of the Department belong to academic societies and associations at home and abroad.  Notable among these are the Linguistics Association of Nigeria (LAN). Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria and West African Linguistic Society.  Evidences of qualitative research work done by the staff of the Department are manifested in many articles published in reputable journals as well as books of high linguistic and literary qualities in the field of Linguistics  studies.

Title of the Degree(s)

B.A. - Linguistics, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

M.A., M.Phil & Ph.D - Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Ph.D.

  Yoruba Language, Yoruba Literature.

Admission Requirements of the Department

1. UTME Entry Requirements

1. Applicants should have 5 'O' level credits in GCE/SSCE/NECO/Equivalent to include English language, one other language and three other Arts/Social Science/Science subjects.
2. Programme/Sub-Discipline/Discipline Structure to include period of formal studies in the Universities Industrial Training, Planned visit and Projects.

(ii) Direct Entry Requirements

(a) Candidates should have at least 5 O/L Credits including English Language at not more than 2 sittings and at least 2 'A' level passes in GCE/IJMB/Equivalent to include a language and any other one Arts/Social Science/Science subject.

(b) NCE with at least one language as a major subject and any other one Arts/Social science subject.

(c)      Diploma in Linguistics from an accredited government tertiary institution

(iii) The students who come in through UTME with O/Level qualifications spend four years while those who come in with GCE A/Level/IJMB/NCE/Diploma qualifications spend three years.  During the course students receive training, field methods and research experience.  They submit type - written projects as part of their final year requirements.

Job Opportunities for our Graduates

Job opportunities available for our graduates are as follows:

• Language teaching
• Translation/Interpreting
• Cultural officers
• Literacy analysts and artists
• Language consultancy
• Media and advertising
• Editorial Services
• Film and Cinema Production
• General research and documentation
• Telecommunication
• Public and Private Organisations etc.