Ede: Prof. Foluke Unuabonah of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun, has called on governments at all levels to extend research support to private universities across the country. Unuabonah, a Professor of Linguistics and Discourse Analysis, made the appeal while delivering the 22nd inaugural lecture of the university in Ede.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture, titled ‘From Text to Context: Advancing Corpus Pragmatics in the Nigerian English Environment,’ examined the role of corpus pragmatics in understanding Nigerian English. Prof. Unuabonah argued that since private institutions and their staff paid taxes and contributed significantly to national development, they should be eligible for research grants. She advocated for faculty members in private universities to serve as lead investigators in TETFund-funded projects, noting that such inclusion would significantly enhance research development in Nigeria.
Prof. Unuabonah emphasized that private universities pay taxes, train Nigerian students, and contribute meaningfully to national development. She stated that supporting their research endeavors is an investment in the country’s growth and development.
Additionally, Unuabonah called for the inclusion of corpus linguistics as a course at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in departments of English and Linguistics. She explained that corpus linguistics offers vast opportunities for scholars and provides a systematic approach to language study, regarded both as a field of study and a research methodology.
Unuabonah highlighted that existing studies show Nigerian indigenous languages significantly influence Nigerian English. She urged departments of linguistics across Nigeria to take the lead in compiling corpora of indigenous languages such as Igbo and Hausa. This initiative would support language preservation and enhance the understanding of pragmatic and other linguistic features that shape Nigerian English as a whole.