1

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE EDUCACIÓN

Enrique Guzmán y Valle
Alma Máter del Magisterio Nacional

ESCUELA DE POSGRADO

FINAL PROJECT

ELT PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Presented by
Yessenia Esther CARLOS OROZCO
Erika Johanna JARAMA GRATELLI

Professor
Dr. Miguel Oré de los Santos

Lima, Peru
2022
 2

Table of contents

Cover …………………………………………………………………………………… 1 ….

Table of contents ……………………………………………………………………….. 2 .....

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….. 3 .....

CHAPTER I: NIGERIA’S PROFILE

1.1. Background ………………………………………………………………………...4

1.1.1. History ……………………………………………………………………. 4 ..

1.1.2. Independence ……………………………………………………………... 4 .

1.2. General Facts ……………………………………………………………………… 5 ...

1.2.1. Location …………………………………………………………………... 5 .

1.2.2. Capital ……………………………………………………………………. 5 .....

1.2.3. Surface ……………………………………………………………………. 5 .

1.2.4. Population …………………………………………………………………5

1.2.5. Languages …………………………………………………………………5

1.2.6. Religions …………………………………………………………………..7

1.2.7. Economy …………………………………………………………………..7

1.2.8. Life Expectancy …………………………………………………………...8

1.2.9. Literacy Rate ……………………………………………………………... 8 ....

1.2.10. Human Development Index (HDI) ……………………………………….. 9 .

1.3. Comparison between the situation in Nigeria and Peru …………………………. 10

.....

CHAPTER II: ELT PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

2.1. The British Council ………………………………………………………………. 11 .....

2.2. Secondary English Project ………………………………………………………... 11 .

Personal Appraisal …………………………………………………………………….. 13 .

 3

Introduction

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa being home of 160 million people, of
whom just over half are Muslims and the rest Christians; it has large oil reserves from
which it derives 40% of its GDP. It is a country with a massive poverty, institutional
weakness, secessionist problems, terrorism, organized crime and religious violence;
factors that produce instability, conflict and violence that could spread throughout the
region.

Although the people who inhabit the present Nigerian territory have a tradition and culture
of their own since ancient times, as is the case with the rest of the African nations, we
know their history only through the legacy of colonial empires. Nigeria was part of the
British Empire until its independence in 1960. Since then the paradigm of the independent
African colonies followed: successive military coups to dictate the interests that suited at
the time.

Insecurity occurs mainly in the north of the country due to the ethnic clashes of Yorubas
against husas and fulanis for the control of agricultural resources, and religious struggles
between Muslims and Christians. This insecurity has been manifested mainly by the
increased actions of Boko Haram (whose translation would be Western education is sin,
haram means sin) fundamentalist group that wants to implement sharia throughout the
Nigerian territory, which has led to an increase in deaths from terrorist activity.

Finally, it is important to mention the highlights of the Nigerian nation to have a better
understanding of how ELT projects are carried out in a country with so many problems
and social inequalities that a country like Nigeria hosts.
 4

CHAPTER I

Nigeria’s Profile

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country attained independence from Britain in 1960,
being today one of the largest West African economies thanks to the income left by the
massive oil-exports; however, COVID-19 and oil price shocks have triggered a slowdown
in economic growth, high inflation and rising unemployment due to political and social
instability in the Nigerian country.

1.1. Background

1.1.1. History

In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of current Nigeria was occupied by a
great diversity of ethnic groups with different aboriginal languages and traditions
that prevailed until the arrival of the British in 1884, who formed an autocratic and
bureaucratic government along the country.
After the military conquest, the British imposed an economic system designed to
profit from African labor. The essential basis of this system was a monetary
economy based on the British pound sterling, which would serve for trade, payment
of taxes to the British government, and payment for the purchase and sale of
Nigerian slaves.
In addition, the fusion of different ethnic and religious groups created an internal
tension that persists in Nigeria to this day, which does not allow successful progress
in the economic and social aspect.

1.1.2. Independence

Nigeria is a West African country that was colonized by the British in 1884 under
the control of their army despite the strong resistance of the natives against the
British, this was crushed by the British. As a result, the creation of the trading post
on the Niger River was created, maintaining the British economic dominance over
the Nigerian colonies and the exploitation of their population. (Graham, 2009)
Nigeria gained independence on October 1st, 1960, under the leadership of Dr
Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was the General Governor of the country and later the first
President at that time.
 5

After independence in 1960, politics was marked by different coups and, for the
most part, by military governments, until the death of a military head of state in
1998 that allowed political transition.
On the other hand, the government continues to face the daunting task of
institutionalizing democracy through an oil-based economy, whose revenues have
always been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement.
Furthermore, Nigeria continues to experience long-standing ethnic and religious
tensions.

1.2. General Facts

1.2.1. Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of

Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon.

1.2.2. Capital

Abuja

1.2.3. Surface

923 768 km2

1.2.4. Population

219 082 083 (Census 2021)

The current population density of Nigeria in 2022 is 236.58 people per km2, a
2.41% increase from 2021 that was 231.01 people per km2.

1.2.5. Languages

A study conducted by SIL International reports that approximately 519 unofficial

indigenous languages are spoken in Nigeria since the majority of the Nigerian
population resides in rural areas, thus maintaining strong internal communication
in indigenous languages. However, the official language of Nigeria is English,
which was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country. The
choice of English as the official language is partly related to the fact that part of the
Nigerian population speaks English as a result of the British colonization that ended
in 1960.
 6

Although most ethnic groups prefer to communicate in their own language, English,
being the official language, is widely used for education, commercial transactions
and official purposes.
English as a first language, however, remains an exclusive preserve of a small
minority of the country’s urban elite, and is not spoken at all in some rural areas. In
view of this, article 55 of the Nigerian constitution states: "The affairs of the country
are conducted in English, as well as in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba when appropriate
measures have been taken to that effect".
In this sense, the most common indigenous languages are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba,
Ibibio, Edo, Fula, Kanuri and Igala, the first three being the major languages.

Most spoken languages

English 63 millions

Hausa 48,3 millions

Yoruba 39,5 millions

Igbo 27 millions

Fuka 14,4 millions

Most spoken languages

 7

1.2.6. Religions

Nigeria, one of the richest countries in Africa, has always had abundant natural
resources to the point of provoking constant struggles between different power
groups for control of mineral wealth, thus generating violent conflicts with more
than 2 million deaths. and extreme poverty for the poorest. Given this, many ethnic
groups feel oppressed and fight for social recognition in such an unequal Nigeria.
Also, it should be noted that this violence can stem from economic, political and
social reasons, but since the population is almost equally divided between
Christians (in the south) and Muslims (in the north), such violence is interpreted as
religious.
Boko Haram, an extremist group whose name means "Western education is
forbidden", has fomented discord between Muslims and Christians but, in fact, has
attacked and killed more Muslims than Christians. The ongoing struggle between
Fulani (Muslim) pastors and (Christian) farmers has exacerbated religious tension.

Principal Religions

Muslim 53.5 %

Christian 35.3 %

Roman Catholic 10.6 %

Other 0.6 %

1.2.7. Economy

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, its economy is a middle-income, mixed
economy and emerging market, with expanding manufacturing, financial, service,
communications, technology, and entertainment sectors. It is ranked as the 27th-
largest economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP, and the 24th-largest in
terms of purchasing power parity. The country's re-emergent manufacturing sector
became the largest on the continent in 2013, and it produces a large proportion of
goods and services for the region of West Africa.
 8

Nigeria, currently the largest economy in Africa, covers 92.4 million hectares and
53% of its population lives in rural areas. Its GDP grew by an average of 3.8%
between 2009 and 2014 as it transitioned to a middle-income country.
However, in a context of falling oil prices, security risks and political uncertainty,
growth slowed significantly. Now the government seeks to reduce dependence on
oil and diversify growth through other resources.
Poverty has a particular incidence in rural areas, where it reaches a rate of 44.9%.
Young people lack economic opportunities, and sporadic civil unrest exacerbates
poverty and malnutrition. In addition, poor rural women and men depend on
agriculture: 70% of rural people are small subsistence farmers, producing about
90% of Nigeria's food on non-irrigated plots that depend entirely on rainfall.

1.2.8. Life Expectancy

According to the latest WHO data published in 2020, Life Expectancy in Nigeria
increased to 55 years, with Male 54 and Female 56, which gives Nigeria the 186th
place in World Life Expectancy, meaning that its inhabitants are among those with
the lowest life expectancy in the world.

1.2.9. Literacy Rate

According to the latest data published by UNESCO, Nigeria has a literacy rate of
62.02%, where the male literacy rate is 71.26%, higher than the female one, which
is 52.66%, being important to note the great difference between the male and
female literacy rates, since it is undoubtedly a form of discrimination that prevents
women from joining society on equal terms and is reflected in the gender gap
index in Nigeria.
 9

1.2.10. Human Development Index (HDI)

The 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) in Nigeria was 0.539 points, which is
an improvement over 2018, which was only 0.534. Nigeria is ranked on the 161st
place in the world, which means that its inhabitants are among those who occupy
the worst place in the ranking of human development (HDI). It is worth mentioning
that the HDI takes into account three variables: long and healthy life, knowledge
and decent standard of living. Therefore, among others, the life expectancy in
Nigeria is 55 years, its mortality rate is 11.63% and its per capita income is 2.148
USD.
 10

1.4. Comparison between the situation in Nigeria and Peru

NIGERIA PERU
Location Western Africa South America
Capital Abuja Lima
Surface 923 768 km2 1 285 216 km2
Independence date October 1st, 1960 July 28th, 1821
Population 219 082 083 32 970 000
Population density 236.58 people per km2 26.21 people per km2
Languages English (Official) Hausa, Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Yoruba, Igbo, Fuka and others are Official
Religions Muslim and Christian Christian
Economy Oil-based economy Mining-based economy
Life Expectancy 55 years 76 years
Literacy Rate 62.02% 94.41%
Extreme Poverty 62% (1,9 USD per day) 27.5%
HDI 0.539 points (low-161st) 0.777 points (high-78th)
GDP 5 853 USD (129th) 11 516 USD (103rd)
 11

CHAPTER II

ELT projects in Nigeria

2.1. The British Council

The British Council has been working in Nigeria since 1943. Every year they connect
with thousands of students, educators, policymakers, academics, creatives and
entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The focus of their work is on providing opportunities for young people through:
 supporting young people to achieve the education, qualifications and skills needed
to reach their potential in their future careers.
 creating and developing new networks and platforms to give young people a voice
in society.

2.2. Secondary English Project

The project was initiated in 1973 and had to take into account the role of English in Ni-
geria.
Bamgbose (1970) states that English is introduced as a subject in the first year of primary
school and from the third year of the primary school up to University level, English is the
medium of instruction.

 Objectives

- To enable students to acquire sufficient proficiency in the 4 language skills.

- To enable students to acquire sufficient proficiency in the language to be able
to learn, either formally or informally, in spoken or written modes, once they
have left school.
- To enable students to communicate in social situations
- To equip students with a brand of English.
- To reinforce cognitive, affective and psycho- motor processes.
- To enable students to pass the West African Examination Council´s “O” level
English language Examination.
 12

The intention was to encourage teachers to introduce a certain amount of functional

grammar in the classroom.

 Kinds of materials

- Authentic materials
- Role-plays
- The syllabuses
- Icebreaker activities
- Problem-solving activities
 13

Personal Appraisal

 We strongly believe that these projects are developed in order to show British power
over Nigeria which is inappropriate according to the linguistic situation they are go-
ing through. According to the studies, most of the Nigerian population communicate
in different indigenous languages, which is appropriate for them not to lose their
costumes, culture and mother tongue.

 On the other hand, Nigerian citizens have certain advantages in the UK. There are a
large number of them that live, study and work in this country because they have
sufficient proficiency in the four language skills.