The House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking the establishment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages.
The bill, a portion of which surfaced on social media over the weekend, had already scaled the first reading at the green chamber last week.
When passed into law, the legislation will add to the increasing pool of existing universities in the country.
Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and eight of his colleagues, the bill is aimed at establishing a university to promote the learning of Nigerian languages and culture.
Section II part I of the bill provides that the university when established shall, “Encourage 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.”
In addition, it also aims to “Develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, adaptive, developmental and productive skills in the field of Nigerian languages and cultures.
This is aimed at “Producing socially mature persons with the capacity to communicate, understand and use Nigerian languages for national development.”
When it comes to fruition, the institution would also “Act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilisation, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, economic and human resources.
“Establish appropriate relationships with other national institutions involved in training, research and development of Nigerian languages and cultures.
