Brief History
The proposal for the
establishment of Federal University Gusau with a Department of Languages and
Culture under the Faculty of Humanities and Education was approved on 18th
February 2013. Thus the history of the development of the programs in the
Department of Languages and Cultures goes hand-in-hand with that of the
University. The formal establishment of the Department and commencement of B.A.
Hausa academic program started in November 2014 during the 2014/2015 Academic
Session.
General Philosophy
The general philosophy is to
produce graduates in Hausa with sufficient academic background, skills, and
practical experience and who are capable of solving local problems and able to
rise to the challenges of a developing economy.
The courses have been designed
with standards to meet these needs and to enable graduates to find employment
in the publishing industry; in print and electronic media; in translation
outfits; in computer and internet-related outfits; in educational institutions
and general government services.
In pursuance of the above, the
following specific features have been incorporated into the programs:
1). Common foundation General Studies
courses at 100 and 200 levels for all students.
2). Seminar presentation and tutorials.
3). Entrepreneurial/Entrepreneurship
studies to equip students for the world of work.
4). Special skills and in-depth study in
a particular area of the program through taking relevant elective courses.
5). Broad-based interaction between
students and professionals within the country.
6). Final Year Research Project in which
the student work alone under supervision.
7). Adequate knowledge in the areas of
grammatical analyses, literary analyses, cultural analyses, and general
knowledge of ICT.
Aim and Objectives
The aim and objectives of the
Hausa language program are in consonance with the realization of national needs
and aspirations vis-a-vis industrial development and technology emancipation.
The aim of the programs in the Department of Languages and Cultures is to
provide suitable personnel with high-quality, broad-based knowledge, training,
skills, and practice for the linguistic, literary, media, and computer-oriented
industries.
1). The programs are established to
achieve the following academic objectives that will add value to the nation in
general:
2). To train competent Hausaists who are
urgently needed for identifying, exploring, and promoting Hausa language and
culture.
3). To carry out practically-oriented
research programs into various aspects of Hausa language, literature, and
culture that will serve as a vehicle for fostering unity and rapid
transformation of the developing Nigerian economy.
4). To provide Hausa graduates with
up-to-date specialized professional skills that will greatly enhance their
knowledge and capacity for self-employment, teaching, and research.
5). To provide training for research in
areas of Hausa Studies that are of particular relevance to national
development.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Department of
Languages and Cultures is to be recognized as a center of excellence in the
training of high-quality broad-based Hausa students in Nigeria.
Mission Statement
Consistent with the mission of
Federal University Gusau, learning is the first priority in the Department of
Languages and Cultures. To implement our mission, the curricula of the programs
in the Department are designed to produce high-quality students of Hausa
Studies who will contribute new knowledge through research and community
service in any appropriate way.
At the end of the program, our
graduates will be qualified to apply knowledge of language, literature, and
culture for the general development of society and in a friendly way.
Justification
It is clearly apparent that
Zamfara State had several advantages as a center for the study of language and
culture, especially Hausa language and Hausa culture and literature because of
its central location in Hausa land.
It is common knowledge that
Zamfara State is home to Hausa oral literature, and Zamfara people are indeed
true custodians of Hausa language, literature, and culture.
It is, therefore, necessary for
the Federal University of Gusau to establish a Department of Languages and
Cultures to run programs in Hausa Studies. This will re-kindle the zeal for
social and economic exploitation of the rich cultures of the people of Zamfara
State.
