The Nigeria French Language Village’s Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Interpretation Program: Context, Content and Comments

Abstract

When, in the early 2000, in response to the dire need and high demand for the training of professional translators and interpreters in the country, the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV), a federal government owned interuniversity centre for French studies located in Lagos State, Nigeria, took the bull by the horns in mounting a Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Interpretation program, it was undoubtedly considered by many stakeholders as a step in the right direction. As at that time, the number of institutions offering similar programs in Nigeria was (and still remains) very scanty. Unfortunately, the NFLV program only lasted for a couple of years because in 2013, the authorities of the institution decided to put it on hold due to certain challenges. The plan was to reform and relaunch the program. Using the NFLV program as a case study and adopting qualitative content analysis as methodological approach, this paper seeks to carry out an appraisal of the impact of such programs on the public they were designed to serve. In doing this, we carried out a thematic content analysis of the official document available on the program, a questionnaire was also administered to a sample of graduates of the program with in order to understand their view and assessment of the program from their personal experience. Based on the comments emerging from the appraisal and considering international best practices, recommendations are offered on ways to revamp the program which, from all indications, is still very much needed in the multilingual Nigeria in particular, and the West African sub-region as a whole.