Nigeria may soon have a new university dedicated to promoting Nigerian languages and cultures. The House of Representatives has passed the first reading of a bill to establish the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and eight others.
The proposed university aims to provide higher education in Nigerian languages, develop academic and professional programs, and produce socially mature persons who can communicate and use Nigerian languages for national development.
Its mandate includes teaching and training high-calibre Nigerian languages professionals, providing language services and consultancy, conducting research, and facilitating knowledge acquisition in different Nigerian languages.
The President will serve as the visitor to the university, with powers to conduct visitations and remove council members under certain conditions. The bill is expected to undergo a second reading and public hearing to gather stakeholders’ input.
