How Nigeria can benefit from multi-linguistic endowment – Don

By Ijendu Iheaka

Prof. Francis Egbokhare, the Chairman, Governing Board, National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Abia, says that Nigeria can benefit from its many languages through integrating them with business, safety and security.

He listed the advantages of speaking many languages to include improvement in networking skills, boosting decision-making skills, opening employment and travel opportunities, increasing workplace competitiveness, and more.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chris Nwankwor, Head, Information, Protocol and Public Relations of NINLAN and made available to newsmen in Aba on Friday.

Egbokhare said this in Aba on Thursday while attending the 27th Regular Meeting of the NINLAN Governing Council.

The chairman said the Council was taking steps to improve the lot of the Aba-based language institute.

He said that such steps include working out modalities for the Institution to start receiving funding from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for some of its projects.

He also affirmed the Council’s interest in having NINLAN exercise its statutory mandate to award degrees, stressing that “the Institution was approaching the process strategically”.

The NINLAN Council during the meeting announced the elevation of three academic staff members to the rank of full Professors.

The Lecturers are Prof. Cyprian Ugwu, Professor of Library Science and Technology, Prof Patricia Ijioma, and Prof. Chidimma Okeogu, both are Professors of Translation Studies.

The elevation brings to four the number of full Professors in the Institution so far appointed by the Institute.

It also announced the promotion of two Senior Deputy Registrars; two Senior Lecturers; two Deputy Registrars and one Principal Assistant Registrar.