Category: Campus Life

By Damola Kola-Dare

Members of the Government Team in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/University-based Unions Re-negotiation Committee have paid tribute to their late Chairman,Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs, who died in April aged 79.

The tribute was signed by the remaining members of the team – Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, Lokoja, Kogi State, Chris Adighije;  Pro-Chancellor, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Birni Kebbi, Kebbi State, Prof. Emeritus Funmi Togonu-Bickersteth and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Lawrence Ngbale.

Others include Pro-Chancellor, Aliko Dangote, University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, Prof. Zubaivru Iliyasu; Pro-Chancellor, Niger-Delta University, William Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Matthew Seiyefa and  Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Prof. Olu Obafemi.

They hailed the deceased who they described  as an incurable optimist and “an indomitable patriot and genuine national hero,” for his sterling leadership qualities, for his ‘never say never’ attitude, for his resolute pursuit of the goal of fashioning out a workable solution to the problems bedeviling the education sector of the country and for his “alluring humility.”

According to them, despite the setbacks experienced in the course of their assignment with Briggs as their leader, they still stand firmly in support of his ideal, “that visionary leadership, committed to the triumph of education as a bedrock of human civilisation and the imperishability of the regime of merit in national growth, will still emerge and our educational system, nay our beloved country, which he  laboured tenaciously and died for, will come to be.”

They said: “Even when it was obvious that, contrary to our expectation, the Agreement was not going to receive the blessing of the ultimate authority,  Briggs led us on in the conviction that the document will sail through eventually, because, as he drummed it into our willing ears, there was no alternative to  accepting the well-wrought document, if the university system will be rescued from its present doldrums, decadence and  declining standards.

 “He refused to be daunted or ruffled when the patently distracting legal process was entered into by an agent of government and a court injunction was obtained when the easiest option was to get the two parties to sign the Agreement. The Committee of Pro-Chancellors, following our Chairman’s Report to it, set up a small team to further seek audience with government at the highest level to obtain a minimal consent of government by a slight shift of position to salvage the system. The failure of that effort did not lead to despair or despondency.

“Until he breathed his last, the apostle of human possibility, a global scientific intellectual and clinician per excellence who, additionally was a man of letters, who believed in the arts as a curative and redemptive instrument, he held us together, undaunted in his belief in the irresistibility of such a solution-laden document. He was ready for any other opening that will bring resolution to the crisis of education in our country that our Committee was set up to address and which he embarked upon with dogged commitment and genuineness of purpose.”

The late Briggs was was a renowned Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a  university administrator, who headed  the Federal Government Team to renegotiate the FGN 2009 Agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The team was poised to solving the challenges of  tertiary education system.

By Tunde Adeniyi

Edves, an educational technology company, is set to revolutionise the African education landscape by fostering innovation in teaching and leadership through its education conference with the theme: “Audacious”.

Scheduled  for tomorrow in Lagos, the conference known as “Edves Catalyst 2023” aims to inspire school leaders and teachers to push boundaries, challenge norms, and reimagine the possibilities within education sector.

Edves Head, Marketing and Communication, Yohanna Bako,  said it was  imperative for educators to embrace audacious ideas and leverage technological advancements to shape the future of learning in Africa.

He said the conference would  serve as a transformative platform, bringing together trailblasing educators, prominent experts, and influential thought leaders from across the continent and beyond. According to him, participants would have the unique opportunity to engage in insightful discussion and explore the latest trends in educational technology.

He said: “From cutting-edge learning tools to innovative pedagogical approaches, Edves Catalyst 2023 will showcase the vast potential of integrating technology into the African education ecosystem.  It will not only equip attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the digital age but also foster meaningful connections and collaboration among education stakeholders. By joining this exceptional gathering, school leaders and teachers will be part of a larger movement, united in their audacity to transform education and create a brighter future for Africa’s k-12 students.” 

Bako further stated that it is a call to action and a rallying cry for all those passionate about education and its limitless possibilities.

He urged stakeholders to  set new standards and shape the trajectory of education across the  continent.

He  listed  the keynote speakers as Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo;  Professor of Marketing and Strategy, Ebonyi State University,  Prof. Ike Elechi;  Associate Dean, Faculty of Education, Queen’s University Canada,  Dr Peter Chin  and Director Phett Interactive Simulations, the University of Colorado Boulder USA, Dr Kathy Perkins.

The Panelist speakers arec CEO of Greensprings Schools, Mrs Lai Koiki; 

Proprietor of Lagoos Schools and  President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Yomi Otubela; Deputy Vice Chancellor at Lukenya University Kenya, Mutheu Kasanga and an official of  Metro East Education District,South Africa, Ms Landeka Diamond.

To say that the post secondary education tier has most tortuously struggled to endure the recent years in Nigeria may amount to an understatement. There’s perhaps no stronger evidence of this than the choice of the theme of the convocation lecture of Modibbo Adama University, Yola delivered Friday, May 12, 2023. Understandably and gratuitously too, the lecture was titled “Nigerian University System and the Public Good”.  It was delivered by a renowned public intellectual and polyglot, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim.  

The lecturer identified as current major challenges of the university the problem of poor financing crippling universities’ ambition of recruiting and even retaining the services of quality staff, engaging in relevant research as well as providing a conducive atmosphere for learning and research especially with incessant strikes as well as the deepening corrupt practices of the administrators. 

This is not to talk of unfathomable sabotage such as relating to the recent strike of the Academic Staff of Universities, ASUU. As I write, there is a backlog of salaries owed members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who had gone on strike for almost one year owing to sheer insensitivity of the relevant but nebulous authorities. 

However, the multi-dimensionsional governance challenges of the higher education, not only universities, remain with us, not  even dressed with any cosmetic application.  Not a few other sectors are similarly beleaguered but the Buhari team clearly seem overwhelmed with President Buhari himself confessing his eagerness to return to his Daura home.  But the King isn’t the state! 

The in-coming government cannot afford to pretend that it does not envisage a huge work  in the higher or tertiary education sector. The orchestrated government of competence promised by the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, as opposed to the politically favoured government of national unity, must therefore pay attention to the prescriptions of dedicated researchers, if it genuinely seeks to dispense services of competence.

Way back in 2020, the higher education czar with inimitable record of service delivery, both as a vice-chancellor and currently as the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matricualtion Board, JAMB, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, volunteered what appear to be indispensable nuggets. They are all ignored till date.

In line with the global best practices, he had noted that the higher education landscape in Nigeria “requires a total overhaul so that it can effectively achieve the purpose of partaking in the development of the nation”. He specifically argues that the coordinating department for Higher Education at the Federal Ministry of Education falls far short of the current needs for emphasis on research. Like several other countries  with proper reckoning for higher education therefore, a Federal Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation should be established to replace the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology which used to be a department in Education Ministry. 

Incidentally, another scholar, interestingly of engineering inclination,  Prof Idris Bugaje recently noted that it is rather pathetic that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has not been able to record any serious accomplishment since its inception. Indeed, the tragedy is that the rather idle parastatals under the ministry have been cesspool of corruption with cases of improper promotions and certificate forgeries.

Bugaje who is the incumbent boss of the National Board of Technical Education, NBTE, particularly wonders why Nigeria will deliberately insist on underutilizing its research institutes by not, like Oloyede also notes, deliberately linking them with universities where established researchers are ever readily available to give relevant directions. Elsewhere Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Prof Tunde Lawal Salako,  states that it may probably work better if Nigeria has a clear policy of directing universities too to co-opt and collaborate with research institutes.  He regrets that a few times that NIMR, under him, has reached out to some universities has not been successful. According to him, not only does this retard intellectual and general progress and development, it also denies researchers based at research institutes the opportunity of becoming professors which is the dream of every researcher.     

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Nigeria’s deliberate choice of confusion over the years with regards to tertiary education actually beats logic.  You find the government here setting up a number of research institutes yet  refusing to connect them with universities whose primary responsibilities should be research administration and governance.  Prior to the current statutory responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Education, the same ministry was referred to as the Federal Ministry of Education Science and Technology only for the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to be excised yet with no clear mandate in relation to the Higher Education sector.

Higher Education experts including the renowned historian, Ade Ajayi had campaigned rigorously for synergy between Higher Education and Research, and therefore, Federal Ministry of Higher Education and even as the campaign progressed, Federal Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, Technology and Innovation.  Far from this laudable and patriotic moves, the Federal ministry of Science and Technology was created and mandated to coordinate major research institutes, which ironically resort to ad hoc support of university based researchers.

Describing the resultant situation as “…cacophony of tertiary education in Nigeria” Oloyede notes that that there is an awareness among experts in the field of higher education that science and technology  are hardly separable and in like manner, higher learning  cannot be distinctly compartmentalized into science and humanities. According to him, the interdependence of different knowledge areas manifests significantly in such disciplines as science education, social sciences, architecture, classics and jurisprudence.

To avoid unwarranted schism or dichotomy in the higher education sector especially at the level of the university, Oloyede posits that the nation’s university system would be the better for it if the universities being established by the security agencies, (except three which are highly specialised) are mainstreamed possibly by renaming them and making them run under the umbrella of the relevant ministry like the rest of their counterparts owned by the same government.

On the whole, for clarity of roles and responsibilities and perhaps in the spirit of nomenclatural and allied reforms granted the former Ministry of Communication Technology (adding up Digital Economy and the former Ministry of Aviation (which has added up Aerospace), the education sector deserves no less. To avoid any likely complication, the JAMB boss  further recommends that as a first step, the Federal Ministry of Education can be made to have two separate but coordinated arms, in similitude with Finance, Budget and National Planning, with “one Minister of Education and a Minister of State for Education for each of the:

1. Reformed Higher Education, Research and Innovation(current Federal Ministry of Science and Technology); and
2. Educational Services, Basic and Secondary Education”

Indeed, in line with the spirit of democracy and what some may prefer to label surrender value, Oloyede’s concern is so strong that he feels that, if only for reason of sustainability, “the state governors, the National Council on Education and representatives of of each of the political parties as well as labour and major professional associations should be active participants of a national extraordinary assembly on the much desired reactivation of education in Nigeria.

The ball, as they say, is now in the court of the imminent self-proclaimed government of national competence.

Tunde Akanni, PhD,  associate professor of journalism at the Lagos State University is also multi-sectoral development expert of repute. Follow him on Twitter @AkintundeAkanni.

Final year students of Theatre Arts of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) will on Saturday, May 27 perform Queens of Kalakuta, a play written by Onyekaba Cornel-Best, at the Creative Arts Theatre Hall.

The stage play was inspired by the life of the late foremost Afrobeat singer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his many wives.

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According to a statement by the organisers, ‘’the play follows the lives of the oft-overlooked women who served as creators, inspiration and activists with, for and side-by-side the legendary Fela in the 70s.

‘’ It is a show of redemption that promises music, colour, laughter, pain, and joy unending,’’ the statement added.

Directed by Coker Olúwátìmílẹ́hìn Michael, the play features Ajanlekoko Emmanuel as Fela; Adekanmbi Olaoluwa as Obatala; Esther Omotosho as Yemoja and Whesu Opeoluwa as Kalakuta Boy.

Others are: Gabriel Chisom Jessica as Queen Chinyere; Gabriel-Ogah Abigael Eshomonu as Queen Kevwe; Aggrey Omodunni Favour as Queen Naa and Oyinkansola Joseph as Queen Sewa, among others.

Bambini Africa Edutainment Limited, a leading company dedicated to promoting children’s education and development, has announced the launch of five exciting new board games under its subsidiary, Bambini Games. Designed by the visionary founder, Raquel Kasham Daniel, these games aim to foster play-based learning and engage young minds. The launch coincides with the celebration of this year’s Children’s Day, further highlighting Bambini Africa’s commitment to creating memorable experiences for African children.

The first game in the series is GO CLEAN, which teaches children the significance of personal hygiene. Next in line is GO SAFE, which is aims to equip children with the knowledge and skills to navigate potentially hazardous situations confidently. Bambini Games also introduces GO FLOW, a game specifically designed for girls with the aim of breaking the taboo around menstruation and hygiene by providing girls with crucial knowledge and understanding of mental health.
With GO GREEN, children will embark on an exciting journey of environmental awareness, with emphasis on the importance of sustainability, recycling, and protecting the planet. Lastly, there is GO LEAD, which focuses on developing leadership skills, ethics, and teamwork in children.

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We spoke to Raquel Daniel, the founder of Bambini Africa and the driving force behind Bambini Games, who expressed her excitement about the release: “Children’s Day is a perfect occasion to introduce these innovative board games that combine learning with fun. Our team has put in immense effort to create captivating experiences that will not only entertain children but also contribute to their overall development.” she said.

Bambini Africa is renowned for its commitment to producing high-quality educational products for children. By leveraging play-based learning, the company has successfully made education enjoyable and interactive for young learners. Bambini Games’ board games align with this vision, providing a valuable resource for parents, educators, and children seeking enriching experiences.

“The launch of these five board games marks a significant milestone for us Bambini Africa and Bambini Games. We believe the board games will offer an immersive platform for children to learn, explore, and grow, empowering them with valuable life skills.” Raquel added.

The Vice Chancellor of Hallmark University Ijebu Itele, Ogun State, Prof. Segun Odunola, has urged out-going Corps members who served at the University to always think and dream big in their plans and actions in future.

He said they should judiciously use all knowledge, skills and disciplines they have acquired during their stay in the University for their progress in life.

Speaking at the passing out/senthforth in honor of the Corp Members at the Council Chamber of the institution, Odunola assured them that the institution is ready to assist them whenever the need arises.

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He advised to be good ambassador of the institution wherever they find themselves in life and always live their lives for service to humanity.

He commended them for their performances and positive dispositions to work and other assignments, adding that their performances in the last one year can never be over emphasised.

The Vice-Chancellor maintained they have served various departments in the University meritoriously. 

He however congratulated them and wish them success in their future endeavours.

Some officers the Corps members served eulogies their sense of duty and dedication to work during their service year.

A group seeking justice for the deceased JSS II student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni, Justice for Sylvester Oromoni Committee (JSOC), has demanded that the result of the Coroner Inquest into the cause of his death be made public

Oromoni Jnr. died on November 30, 2021, four days to his 12th year birthday from an alleged torture and administration of a poisonous substance that was forced down his throat by some identified senior students of the college.

Following controversies trailing the circumstances surrounding Oromoni’s death, the Lagos State Government set up a Coroner Inquest to investigate the cause of the pupil, but several months after the committee completed their assignment.

According to the group, all concerned parties were represented at the inquest. Femi Falana (SAN), Efole, Bimpe Ajegbomogun, Mrs. B.A Bekeyei-Alaki, T.E Olawanle, Victor Chukwuma and A.A Oniyelu Ayo Aribisala represented the late Oromoni family, while A.A George led the counsel for state.

Also, at the Coroner’s inquest, Anthony Kpokpo and Daniel Effiong represented Dowen College, while Izechukwu Ohajwuan and Nosa Iyamu represented one of the pupils, Ansel Temile

Ayi Ekpenyong and Okoi.O represented Benjamin Favour, and Chigozie Emenike, Imabong Uye and Jessica Oyeyipo represented Micheal Kashamu.

The group said it was unacceptable for the findings and recommendation of the inquest to be swept under the carpet months after the committee had completed and forwarded its findings to the Lagos State Government.

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It appealed to the Lagos State Government, the judiciary and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on members of the Coroner to immediately make its findings and recommendations available to the public in the interest of justice for their late son.

Making its stand known in a statement by its Coordinator, Elder Regent Youmor, the body said it has become very necessary for the Coroner to immediately declare its findings in order for the parties involved to be able to take their next line of action in ensuring that justice prevails.

It said: “It’s unthinkable to see that a Coroner Inquest that is usually set up with a specific terms of reference and a short time frame to accomplish its findings and submit its findings to enable parties involved take the next line of action open to them in any particular case is now the one foot dragging to make report public”.

“From our little experience of how Coroner Inquest works, the members are allowed to sit even on Sundays, in order to be able to meet up with the specified time frame it’s being given but, in the case, we have an Inquest that adjourns for two months, come back to sit briefly again and then take another three months adjournment for no good reasons”.

“It is based on this, that we the concerned Ijaw indigenes both at home and in the diaspora are calling on both the federal and Lagos state governments, the judiciary, as well as well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Coroner Inquest to make public its findings so that the family can proceed with its next line of action.”

Students at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State are distraught over poor electricity supply in their off-campus communities. They want the issue addressed by school authorities and the state. JOY OJOMOLADE (AAUA) reports.

Power supply in the country remains problematic and epileptic despite the intervention of government in handing it over to the distribution companies (Discos).

However, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, is a home to residents whose business activities revolve round electricity; students are not left out too; they need regular power to read, cook, iron their clothes, and pump water, among other things.

Recently, residents of Akungba including students took to the streets to protest the epileptic power supply in the area.

The protesters said the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) failed to supply enough to the community despite  payments made.

A source said :”Even after paying regularly for the electricity bills, we still live and sleep with no light on. An operation of give and take has been the opposite. The organisation mainly receives but hardly makes electricity available. Complaint of exorbitant bills has been a topic of discussion as they charge excess fee for the little or no power supply  to the community.”

The people have, however, come to believe that they are being treated unfairly as the Disco in charge  most times refuse to listen to the complaints of the people.

Expressing his bitterness, Adebowale Dayo, an indigene of the community had earlier accused BEDC of mismanagement. He claimed that they were taking advantage of the community.He further alleged that  the company charged exorbitant electricity fees without supplying power. He expressed disappointment that such a thing could happen in a university environment.

Students are also not happy with the situation.

   Bisade Christina Ojo, a 300-Level   student of Mass Communication  in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), decried poor electricity supply in the community. “Electricity is not constant and it is always not available especially when students are around,” she said.

Adeyemi Julius Aladetimehin, a 200-Level student of Microbiology said: “What is expected is not what is given despite paying bills constantly and when we do not pay, they disconnect our light. Even when they supply electricity, the current is low at times and it affects us.”

He said getting more high voltage transformers would be of great help.

Samson Balogun, a 300-Level student of Accounting believes the electricity supply organisation is  being partial as it  sometimes supplies other communities and leaves out  students’ areas.

“Students rely on generators to charge their phones, iron their clothes and do other things, but the snag is that, generators cause noise pollution and affects students especially during examination  when they are supposed to be reading.

‘’Some students even pay to charge their phones which is adding to their bills and making them strain financially,” he said.

Omoniyi Marvellous, a 100-Level student of Computer Science described  power supply in the community as a ‘bad one’.  He said  he had only  utilised electricity once ever since he moved into his apartment and had  lost hope on its availability.

“I do  not see the electricity  issue as a barrier anymore because I’m used to it,” he said.

For Ademola Temitope of the Department of Education Management, 80 per cent  of students don’t have generator and have to depend on the electricity,which is epileptic.

Another  student Elizabeth Olorunmola decried poor electricity supply in an area densely populated by students.She said students find it very difficult to charge their devices.

The Student Union Government (SUG) President, Kolade Olumide Ogunsanmi said he met with the officials of BEDC in Akungba concerning the electricity issues and they attributed the poor  supply to  shortage of megawatts from their Okene station.

Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Olusegun Matthew Akanbi, said the university was trying its best to improve electricity supply in student areas, adding that poor  power supply was not peculiar to Akungba.

“We are still better,” he said.

Akanbi said  the country in general was not any better in terms of regular power supply. He said the school was also battling limited resources

Earlier, the Senior Commercial Officer and Service Manager of Akungba, Isua and Oka Akoko BEDC, Mr. Adesola Samuel, said electricity is  generated from Okene, Kogi State, and is distributed based on available megawatts.

“Ordinarily, we are supposed to be having 12 megawatts from the direct feeders, but it has dropped to between four and five and the more the megawatts, the more stable the electricity would be, and vice versa.

“The community population has nothing to do with the megawatts. In our context, we are not the producer of the energy. We buy energy from generation through transmission and we sell to our customers. Once the production drops, we won’t be able to get our 12 megawatts and that’s when population comes into play.

“At times,  students  also contribute to the epileptic power supply. We see situations when we disconnect cables of debtors, once supply is restored, everyone often 70-75 per cent hang their wires back on poles. These actions have a direct effect on our transformers. It leads to fuse cut,” he said.

He noted also that Akungba should always understand that if they do not get supply of power, it is as a result of the shortage of megawatts received from Okene station.

The MTN Foundation has announced a call for applications for its yearly undergraduate scholarship award.

 The award seeks to recognise and reward high-performing students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. It targets two categories of students – undergraduates in Science and Technology-related courses and blind students in any field of study.

Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said: ” We believe in the creativity and resilience of the Nigerian youth. They have the potential to change the world and put Nigeria on the global map in positive ways as we can already see. The role of quality education in empowering the youth for exploits cannot be overemphasised. We are glad to stand with them through the MTN scholarships.”

The foundation has awarded scholarships to 4,590 students till date.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants  are required to attain a set Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5.

Candidates who are eligible and qualified are to visit MTN website to apply before June 18.

• By Adebola Fatoyinbo

In today’s increasingly interdependent world, speaking a second language is an essential skill that gives you the ability to communicate and connect with people from all over the world in a quicker and more meaningful way. Connections are now more important than ever, considering the continual globaliiation of the world’s economy, and knowing a foreign language will always give you a significant advantage

Learning a new language undoubtedly helps your gray matter grow. Acquiring a new language means that you are going to learn a whole new set of rules of grammar and lexis. Nothing challenges the brain like learning a new language does. While your brain is trying to keep up with the new language’s complexities and take in the new patterns, new developments are happening in the brain. Just like muscles, the brain gets stronger and bigger the more you put it to use.

Scientists have established that we use the left side of the brain when speaking our native language. Whereas, second language usage is not limited to a specific hemisphere., it uses both of them, increasing the size of the white and grey matter of the brain.

There are tangible benefits to being bilingual—it can boost your creativity and self-esteem, improve your brain and memory functions, help in your career opportunities, as well as increase your understanding of the language you already speak.

Knowing a foreign language is not beneficial only to the brain; it also influences your level of creativity. As a person starts to learn a language, he gets familiar with the culture of the place where that language is spoken. The more you learn about new cultures, the more you will look at the world around you from different perspectives. The change of views will make you more original, elaborate, and flexible—all qualities of being a creative person. Learning a new language forces your brain to put words together in creative ways, which stimulates your brain and boosts your creativity. This creativity will spill over into other aspects of your life too.

With the human attention span seemingly narrowing more and more every day, according to many studies, deciding to learn a new language may be the antidote to this situation.  Recent studies show that the average attention span of a person has reduced from 12 to eight seconds. Researchers suggest that learning a new language helps the brain maintain focus and block distractions. This is a result of regularly switching between languages.

When speaking, bilinguals or multilinguals are constantly switching between two or more languages in their head, and this juggling improves the brain’s ability to concentrate on one thing while ignoring other irrelevant information

With an ever-growing global economy and an increasingly diverse national population, speaking a second language is a desirable trait for many employers. From translating or creating documents to speaking with clients, employers need speakers of other languages on a daily basis.

In the highly competitive job market, many firms are opening offices overseas to extend their market. So, the need for bilingual candidates is greater than ever. By acquiring a foreign language, you will double the number of available jobs for you and climb the career ladder much faster.

Also, nowadays, people who are proficient in more than one language are high in demand in the job market in all sectors and industries, as the employers consider them to be better communicators and problem solvers. Skills that one master by acquiring a second language.

The mother tongue is learned intuitively and without any formal education. Being raised in a society where a particular language is spoken, children start to pick up the language they hear. However, learning another language is a whole different deal. From the beginning, you will get introduced to grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and sentence structure. As you learn more about the second language, you become more conscious of what you know in the first language. Then, you could not quite explain the abstract rules and language structure but learning a new language helps you put names to what you learned instinctively in the first language.

A new language opens the mind to new ideas and new challenges lead to personal growth. You may begin to see yourself and the world differently. With the English language being the world’s lingua franca, many English speakers may think it is not necessary to learn a new one but learning a foreign language never goes to a waste. You may use it while in a new country to communicate with the locals so they can help you find your destination or maybe feel at home after you moved there to teach English to non-English speakers. It may even help you in your job and your business travels. Knowing a second language means a whole new literature is in your hands and you can use it as you deem fit.