French professor becomes First Nigerian to be elected as FIPF General Secretary.....

Dr. M. A. Tijani

Associate Professor in French Language and Applied Linguistics at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. M. A. Tijani served as Lecturer and taught Oral French, Phonetics, Written Expression in French, Culture and civilization, Translation & Research Methodology to Post graduate, Undergraduate and College of Education students Chaired committees on the design of Certificate and Diploma Courses in French. He chaired several committees on the design of French Language Programmes for Special Purposes (French for Banking, Business, Military, Security Agencies, Bilingual Secretaries, Diplomats, etc. He was responsible, for many years, for the design of Academic Competence Placement test for undergraduates on Language immersion programme at the Nigeria French Language Village. He took part in Bilingual (French / English) Translation and Interpretation activities and Language Consultancy Projects and served as Dean of Students Affairs and ensured improved students welfare.

With the Legendary Ivan Hamard of RFI

At the last FIPF Congress, he was elected as the Secretary General in charge of Africa and Indian Ocean countries. He is the first Nigerian to hold the post, a feat he achieved by defeating other candidates from French-speaking countries.

We urge the Nigerian government and other relevant instructions to take full advantage of this opportunity to reposition French in Nigeria.