French language training is expanding in Nigeria as educators and learners highlight its role in unlocking wider economic and social opportunities.
At the 2024/2025 French Competence Summer Out session held at Alliance Française in Ibadan, participants showcased language skills through poetry, music, drama and cultural exchanges.
Alliance Française Director Olaide Turner-Moyet said French is the second most spoken foreign language in Nigeria and urged more substantial support for its integration into schools, trade, and public service. She said building competence in the language would strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
University of Ibadan lecturer, Shadrack Bamidele, praised the institution for equipping students with practical skills that have enabled Nigerians to integrate into international systems.
Learners, including Blessing Ojo and Oreofe Ayansola, described the programme as impactful and called for government scholarships, seminars and partnerships with French institutions to widen access.
Organisers said boosting French education would bridge social gaps and help young Nigerians seize global opportunities.
