Nigeria joins Francophone group as observer

Nigerias Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Nigerias membership of the International Organisation of French Speaking Countries as an observer, the Nigerian tv reported. The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu RufaI, announced this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. She said the move would boost the countrys diplomatic relations with all French speaking nations. RufaI said that the membership had become necessary because Nigeria was surrounded by Francophone countries and that many Nigerians could speak French. The minister said there was a special project to develop French as a language in schools across the country. She stressed that the project which was inaugurated in 1998, was being supported by the French Government.