A bill aimed at establishing the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The bill, introduced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu along with eight other sponsors, seeks to create a specialized institution dedicated to promoting the learning and development of Nigerian languages and cultures.
According to Section II, Part I of the bill, which was obtained by The PUNCH on Saturday, the university will focus on “Encouraging the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures.”
The bill also outlines the academic and professional programs that the university will offer, aimed at awarding diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research, and higher degrees.
The focus will be on “Planning, adaptive, developmental and productive skills in the field of Nigerian languages and cultures” with the goal of “Producing socially mature persons with capacity to communicate, understand and use Nigerian languages for national development.”
Additionally, the proposed institution will act as a hub for research and innovation, facilitating postgraduate training and contributing to Nigeria’s natural, economic, and human resource sectors.
The bill highlights the importance of collaborating with other national institutions involved in language and cultural research to maximize the university’s impact.
The institution’s broader mandate includes “Providing and promoting sound basic training as a foundation for the development of Nigerian languages” and “Promoting teaching and research activities around Nigerian languages, including outreach programs, in-service training, continuing education, and adaptive research.”
The bill also emphasizes the role of the university in offering consultancy services and conducting outreach to support the professional development of language experts.
Section 1(2) specifically mentions that the university will be responsible for training “High calibre Nigerian languages professionals,” as well as conducting research and providing consultancy services in this area.
The President of Nigeria will serve as the “visitor” to the university, with the responsibility of conducting periodic assessments of the institution. Section 14(2) specifies that the President “As often as the circumstances may require, not being less than once every five years, conduct a visitation of the university or direct that such a visitation be conducted by such person or persons as the visitor may deem fit and in respect of any of the affairs of the university.”
During these visitations, the university is required to provide full cooperation to the President or any appointed visitors.
“It shall be the duty of the bodies and persons comprising the university to make available to the visitor and to any other person conducting a visitation in pursuance of this section, such facilities and assistance as he or they may reasonably require for the purposes of a visitation,” according to subsection 3.
In addition to these administrative responsibilities, the President is empowered to remove members of the university’s council if deemed necessary. Section 15(1) states that if a council member, other than the pro-chancellor or vice-chancellor, is found guilty of misconduct or deemed unfit for office, the council can make a recommendation for their removal through the Minister to the President.
Should the President approve, “He may direct the removal of the person in question from office.”
The bill is expected to proceed to a second reading in the coming weeks, where it will likely be subjected to a public hearing to gather input from stakeholders before any final decisions are made.
