The French Embassy in Nigeria and the Solid 100.9 FM, Enugu, have organised an Inter-School French Language competition to foster and promote French language among students in Enugu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition titled “Solid FM French Language Fest” is funded by the French Embassy in Nigeria under the FEF-toi le micro Naija Project.
It was designed to promote French learning as a practical means of communication, foster job creation and trade opportunities with neighbouring countries.
Out of the 10 government schools in Enugu that participated in the competition, College of the Immaculate Conception, Community High School, Emene, Enugu and Trans Ekulu Girls Secondary School, emerged first, second and third positions respectively.
Speaking during the competition held at the Alliance Française, Enugu, one of the judges and a representative of AF, Doris Ngwu, said that aside promoting French language among students, the competition was a way of showcasing culture and diversity.
According to her, the students came to showcase what they have been learning under their French teachers who were empowered by the French Embassy under the France Education Fund, FEF-À toi le micro Naija Project (ATLMN).
“The Project is to promote and foster the learning of French in Nigeria and I am advising students to stick to the opportunities they have through French learning,” Ngwu said.
In her remarks, Mrs Ijeoma Onwuegbuna, Director in-charge of Persons with Disabilities, Enugu State Ministry of Education, disclosed that the competition had 10 pilot schools which were selected by the French Embassy.
The director said that the schools were supplied with school equipments, materials and other things needed in teaching of French language.
Onwuegbuna, the Head Judge of the competition, said the embassy trained French teachers in those 10 schools with the aim of imparting the knowledge attained to their French students.
“So, this event is to evaluate them and to learn from each other. It is important to Enugu because the state is going bilingual as French is the second language in Nigeria now.
“The investors are coming here, someone from Enugu might also go to Abidjan and France. The language will help in the quest for business communication,” she said.
Onwuegbuna added that Nigeria is bordered by Francophone countries, saying, “If you go to west, you see Cotonou, Benin, to the North, we have Chad around Maiduguri, Niger and Cameroon at the South.
“We must communicate with our neighbours because communication is peace. So because of the mixture, we must learn French as it offers many job opportunities,” she said.
While commending Solid FM for organising the programme, she noted that Igbo language would not become extinct.
The project organiser and a Broadcaster with Solid FM, Ms Adaeze Nwokolo, said her love for languages and French in particular made her partner with the French Embassy under ATLMN and Solid FM.
She added that Hands Studios, Ogbuefi Book Foundation and the Centre for French Training and Documentation, (CFTD), Enugu also supported her to make the competition a huge success.
“Few French-Speaking journalists were also chosen in Nigeria and trained, and I was chosen from Enugu State.
“The categories of the competition includes spelling bee, reading, interpretation and dictation all in french language,” she said.
In a welcome address, the General Manager, Solid FM, Mr Uche Gabriel, lauded the French Embassy for its partnership and unwavering support in promoting French Culture and language in Nigeria.
NAN also reports that trophies, medals, French dictionaries, books, cash prizes and certificates of participation were awarded to all the participating schools and students. (NAN)
