LAGOS ORGANISES FRENCH COMPETITION TO SPUR INTEREST OF STUDENTS
… As Aguda Senior High School Emerges Overall Champion
The Lagos State Government, in a bid to spur the interest of students and showcase the various opportunities associated with French as a major lingua franca in the world, has organised the Y2022 edition of “A LA CONNAISSANCE DE LAGOS” (How Much of Lagos Do You Know), a French Quiz Competition for students across the State.
Speaking during the competition held at Immaculate Heart Comprehensive School Hall, Maryland, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said that the intensive study of French and quiz competition in the language is capable of producing amongst the students a Corp of Diplomats as French and English are the leading universal international languages of the world.
Mrs. Adefisayo commended the Multilingual International Centre of the Ministry for initiating the competition which, according to her, has challenged the students to know more about their immediate environment and answer questions on them in French.
In her words: “To make our students relevant in line with the 21st-century demand and continually arouse their interest in having a deep knowledge of the language, we have sustained this programme as it will create various opportunities for the students in the nearest future”.
She encouraged all students to intensify their efforts towards understanding and speaking the language professionally, as this will boost their effective communication and relationship with other francophone countries, saying: “French language graduates stand a better chance of accessing opportunities in multinational companies and organisations”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director Multilingual International Centre, Mrs. Taiwo Haastrup, remarked that the Lagos State Government, through the Multilingual International Centre, has continued to give adequate attention to Foreign Languages such as French, Chinese, English, German and Arabic, while not neglecting the indigenous languages.
She pointed out that the Centre has improved students’ oral proficiency and French Language Teachers’ efficiency for effective service delivery in the classroom.
A representative of Alliance Francais de Lagos, Mrs. Marine Bordes, commended the Lagos State Government for the programme, noting that it will foster better relations between the State and French-speaking countries.
Bordes expressed delight in seeing the students interact in French and called for the sustenance of the initiative by the Lagos State Government.
Aguda Senior High School (Education District IV) emerged overall champion in the Senior Category, defeating Lagos Model Senior College, Igbonla (District III) and Lagos State Model College, Meiran (District I) to the second and third positions respectively.
Also, Festac Girls Junior Secondary School (Education District V) clinched the first position in the Junior Category while Herbert Macaulay Junior High School (District IV) and Agindigbi Junior Grammar School (District VI) came second and third respectively.
Stakeholders and dignitaries present at the event included the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, who was represented by Commissioner I, TESCOM, Mr. Jacob Ashaka; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, Ms. Adetola Salau and Directors from the Ministry among others.
GL/TMS/OS
CAPTION:
Pic: Representative/Educational Coordinator, Alliance Francais de Lagos, Mrs. Marine Bordes; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji; Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo; Representative of Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Mr. Ashaka Jacob with the winners of the Y2022 Edition of the “A LA CONNAISSANCE DE LAGOS” (How Much of Lagos Do You Know) French Quiz Competition held at Immaculate Heart Comprehensive School Hall, Maryland.
