French is bridge to global opportunities — Prof Bariki

By Funke Adebayo

In an era defined by globalisation, communication across languages has become more than an academic exercise; it has become a currency of opportunity.

This is the conviction of Professor Isaiah Bariki, one of Nigeria’s foremost scholars of French language and translation studies, who has consistently championed French as an essential skill for Nigeria’s next generation of leaders.

“Nigeria cannot afford to remain monolingual in a region where French dominates,” he said. “French is the language of our neighbours, Benin, Niger, Togo, Chad, Cameroon, and the language of international diplomacy and commerce.”

Nigeria is surrounded on almost all sides by Francophone countries, yet French proficiency among Nigerians remains low compared to countries like Ghana or Senegal. For Professor Bariki, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. “The absence of French limits Nigeria’s capacity to integrate economically with ECOWAS and weakens our cultural presence in the region,” he explained.

He argued that French fluency among Nigerian youth could unlock opportunities in cross-border trade, regional leadership, scholarship, and even security cooperation. In his words, “French is not just about conjugating verbs—it is about positioning Nigeria as a true leader in Africa.”

Beyond traditional methods, Professor Bariki believes the future of language education lies in innovation. “Artificial intelligence has changed everything,” he said. “AI-powered platforms like Duolingo, Lingvist, or immersive VR programs can give Nigerian students instant access to simulated French conversations. These tools provide practice opportunities that were unthinkable ten years ago.”

He noted that Nigerian universities can leverage chatbots that correct pronunciation, adaptive software that personalises lessons, and even machine translation tools like DeepL to bridge gaps in exposure. “With AI, learning French no longer depends solely on the four walls of the classroom,” he emphasised.

Bariki urged the government and universities to adopt forward-looking strategies. He recommended investment in digital infrastructure, partnerships with Francophone institutions, and nationwide incentives for French teachers. “If Nigeria is to maintain its claim as the ‘Giant of Africa,’ then multilingual competence must be part of our national strategy,” he said.

In a parting remark, he summarised: “French remains our bridge to Africa and the wider world. With AI, that bridge has only become more powerful and more accessible.”

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