A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Sarah Sosan, on Saturday urged Nigerian students to learn French to increase their chances of getting international jobs.

Sosan, also a former school principal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that French was the second most widely taught and learned language after English and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world.

She said French was also  an international language spoken on all the five continents along with English.

”French is a language that gives a lot of opportunities for employment internationally.

”We need to encourage a lot of our students to try and learn the language so they will have it as an asset and as an additional skill that can boost their resume and sell them.

”In today’s world, speaking one foreign language is not enough. Students who speak several languages will increase their chances of finding a job easily,  whether at home or abroad.

”Learning another language enriches the mind and opens up new horizons, both personal and professional,” she said.

Sosan said the ability to speak both French and English was an advantage for finding a job with the many multinational companies using French as their working language.

”France, as the world’s fifth biggest economy, attracts entrepreneurs, researchers and foreign students.

”French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.

”Proficiency in French is essential for anyone considering a career in any international organisation.

”Many of us, the older generation did not have such opportunity to learn the language,” she said.

Sosan commended Lagos State Government for upgrading the multi-lingual training centre in the state to an international standard.

She urged French teachers to be patient with students and equip themselves with modern instructional materials to make teaching and learning easy.

”This days, technology is taking over and it helps students learn the language easily. Videos, compact disc, radio, internet are being used to make learning of French language easy in schools,” she said.