The House of Representatives has introduced a bill to establish Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages, aimed at promoting the study and preservation of Nigerian languages and cultures.
The bill passed its first reading on Thursday, following its introduction by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and eight other co-sponsors.
The proposed university is designed to provide higher education opportunities in Nigerian languages without discrimination based on race, creed, gender, or political affiliation, according to Section II Part I of the bill, PUNCH reports.
The institution will focus on offering academic and professional programs, including diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with a strong stress on adaptive and developmental skills in the field of Nigerian languages.
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 capacity to communicate, understand and use Nigerian languages for national development.”
Also, the federal university, when established would also “Act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, 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.
“Provide and promote sound basic training as a foundation for the development of Nigerian languages as well promote and emphasise teaching and research activities around Nigerian languages, including outreach programmes, in-service training, continuing education, and adaptive research,” among others.
Moreover, the mandate of the university as defined in Section 1(2) includes “To teach and train high calibre Nigerian languages professionals.
“Conduct research and participate in outreach and community services and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills in different Nigerian languages.”
The President who is the visitor to the university, in Section 14 (2), is required to “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.”
Sub-section 3 provides that “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.”
The Visitor (President) is also vested with the powers to remove from office council members apart from the pro-chancellor and the vice-chancellor of the university.
Section 15 (1) reads, “If it appears to the council that a member of the council (other than the pro-chancellor or the vice-chancellor) should be removed from office on the ground of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office or employment, the council shall make a recommendation to that effect through the Minister to the President after making such enquiry, if any, as may be considered appropriate.
“If the President approves the recommendation, he may direct the removal of the person in question from office.”
However, the bill is expected to be listed for a second reading in the weeks ahead in preparation for a public hearing to garner stakeholders’ input.