Associate Professor of Culture and Civilization at the University of Calabar, Dr. Gloria Okon, has called on the National Universities Commission to reconsider its curriculum and reintegrate French for specific fields of study such as medicine, law, business, and tourism.
Speaking at a seminar titled French Up Your Career at the Alliance Française in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, she said, “In the latest core curriculum and minimum academic standards that the National Universities Commission asked us to adopt, we realised that French had been dropped from the curriculum. I think that is a big mistake. We need to create more awareness of French for specific purposes,” she said.
The French embassy in Nigeria also expressed its commitment to collaborating with tertiary institutions in the country to enhance opportunities for studying French.
The Consul General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, highlighted the career advantages of learning French. The event was part of the ongoing French Language Week celebrations.
Favier noted that as one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union, French can open doors to various careers both within and outside Nigeria.
“You will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,” he said.
He explained that proficiency in French is not just an additional skill but a gateway to opportunities in diplomacy, international relations, translation, journalism, and even the tech industry, where bilingual professionals are in demand for software localization, customer support, and project management in French-speaking regions.
Favier added that beyond creating awareness, the French embassy is actively involved in training teachers and improving university programs to make learning French more practical and career-oriented.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Director of Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Marina Lacal, stressed that the conference was designed to inform students and professionals about how learning French could enhance their career prospects.
“This year, we decided to organise this conference to understand how French can help all Nigerians in their career. We have human resources who will tell us how they are implementing French in their companies and how French is useful. It is also to encourage students and learners that the language can open doors,” she said.
French Embassy corporate attaché, Magaly Losange, also emphasised the need for a modern approach to teaching the language, noting that many schools still use outdated methods that focus too much on grammar rather than practical communication.
“One of the things that the French embassy does is support schools, universities, and institutions that are trying to make a difference. Most teachers ask us for support to get ICT equipment so they can create more interactive classes and expose students to the language regularly,” she said.
The event was attended by students from Rivers State University, the University of Port Harcourt, and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. It featured musical and dance performances in French.
