French Resource Centre launched at UoN

By Caleb Mutua

The French Ambassador to Kenya his excellence Etienne de Puneins officially inaugurated a Regional Resource Centre for French at the University of Nairobi today.

The resource centre, which was set up at a cost of KSHs. 4.2 million, is expected to offer services to university students as well as secondary school students from 15 schools near the campus.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of studying French language. “I am aware of the plans by the college of Humanities and Social Sciences to expand the current French sub-department in this university to a fully-fledged department…French language is increasingly becoming popular in Kenya and I urge Kenyans to learn French,” the ambassador said. He also recommended the audience to visit Alliance Francaise which offers French studies.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi defined the moment as exciting and explained to the students the many benefits that come with studying the language. “French is an international language and as a student you are able to communicate with as many people as possible,” he added. He reminded the audience that the establishment of the resource center showed the spirit of partnership under the university’s strategy.

In his speech, which was read by Prof. Kaimenyi, The Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Magoha said that the inauguration of the centre was an indication of the university’s strengthened collaboration with French institutions and thanked the French government for its continued support to UoN.

The French Embassy provided audio visual material and a documentation centre for the students. With the establishment of this new centre, the number of French resource centres in Kenya has hit 20.

First published in March 2012.