Students of the Department of French at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, have been adjudged to be exceptionally disciplined, compared to French students of other Nigerian universities who undertake the language immersion programme abroad.
Mawuena Adjrankou Glokpo (PhD), the director general of the International Centre for Languages Research and Teaching (CIREL), also known as Village du Benin, Lome, Republic of Togo, revealed this when he visited the management of IAUE, in Port Harcourt.
Glokpo, who said he was in Nigeria to familiarise himself with the Nigerian universities which send students to Village du Benin, Lome, for the “Year Abroad” French Language proficiency programme, said, his coming would strengthen the existing cordial relationship between his institution and IAUE, Port Harcourt.
He particularly thanked French lecturers of the University of Education for impacting positively on the students.
Glokpo, who also doubles as the national correspondent of French Speaking Countries, Togo, commended the IAUE management for partnering with his country in the promotion of French Language study in Nigeria.He used the opportunity to invite Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, (a professor) and the vice chancellor of IAUE, to the 45th year celebration of the “Village du Benin,” coming up in June this year.
The Village du Benin was founded in 1968 as a language teaching and research centre, especially for non-French speaking foreign students.
The CIREL Director General presented a document containing rules and regulations of the centre to the Vice Chancellor, saying it would help educate IAUE students and give them the right orientation on their language immersion programme before they set out to Lome, Togo.
Kingdom Orji, the dean of faculty of humanities, IAUE, who received the CIREL Director General on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, commended him for the noticeable impact and difference felt at the return of the IAUE French students each year from Togo.
The Vice Chancellor, while appreciating the effort of the French Language training centre appealed that they ensure that IAUE French students become effective teachers adding that it would help the University a great deal.
She furthered that the university management would continue to promote the study of French Language, stating that plans were in top gear to upgrade the French room in the university to make it a befitting place of study.
Green-Osahogulu, assured the visitor and his team that IAUE does not take kindly to indiscipline, hence her students can be trusted as worthy ambassadors wherever they go or find themselves.
But however, asked that the University be notified if for any reason they have problems with any of their image makers, noting that as members of the ECOWAS, both countries are partners in progress.
Mawuena Adjrankou Glokpo, who was accompanied by Uche Sholokwu, president of Inter-College Association of French Teachers (INTERCAFT), later embarked on a facility tour of the ongoing building project of the new French room and laboratory. He later met with the French students and lecturers at the existing French room where he interacted with them and advised them to interact more with the French community when they visit Togo to enhance their knowledge of the French Language; make use of the 300 teachers at the disposal of students at CIREL, Lome, Togo, and buy French books that he said are cheaper at the Centre compared to elsewhere.
BEN EGUZOZIE
