Ladoja visits French Village, addresses students in French language 

The former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Rashidi Ladoja paid a courtesy visit to the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State, where he addressed the students in French language with a promise to support the institution.

Ladoja had earlier met the Director/CEO and his management team in the Director’s office in the newly renovated administrative building. The former Governor later met with the students where he encouraged them to make the good opportunity of learning the language for their intellectual, professional and socioeconomic development.

He recalled his experience as a Chemical Engineering student at the Université de Liège, Belgium where he learnt the French language.

Oladoja also told the students that his knowledge of French helped his outstanding performance as an Engineer with Total Oil Company where he was recruited as a fresh graduate upon graduation. 

He commended the management of the institution under the leadership of Prof Lateef Babatunde Ayeleru, noting that he visited the institution during the administration of the pioneer Director/CEO, Prof S. A. Ade-Ojo.

The former Governor, therefore, encouraged the management team and staff to key into Ayeleru’s laudable vision for the village. Ladoja assured that he would give necessary possible assistance to the growth of the Nigeria French Language.

After his brief words of encouragement to a cross section of the students on the Language Immersion Programme, Ladoja had an exciting interactive section with the students.

In his vote of thanks, the President of Students’ Representatives Council, Mr. Faith Willy Onukwo from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Anambra State, thanked the former Governor for his love for education, the youth and for being a francophile.

He appealed to him to mobilise possible support for the development of the Nigeria French Language Village.

Present at the Village Auditorium, venue of the rencontre were the Director/CEO, Prof Ayeleru; Deputy-Director, Dr. E. A. Adeniyi; Registrar, Ms Ini Nwa, Bursar, represented by Mr. Adekunle Akinola; Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr M. A. Sanni; Deputy-Registrar (Students’ Affairs), Mrs. Elizabeth Ayeni and Ms Dupe Lawani, a former freelance Journalist with RFI.