Department of English

Dr Abosede A. Otemuyiwa

aaotemuyiwa@jabu.edu.ng

Head of Department, English

Introduction

The College of Humanities is one of the pioneer colleges at the inception of the University in 2006. The Department of English was one of the departments founded then. The department started with sixteen students and six members of staff. She seeks to produce a new breed of graduates who through sound and apt understanding of Language and Literature will be empowered with sound characters and the drive to respect the sanctity of human life. Besides, the department hopes that our products would excel in English language awareness for them to reason intellectually regarding Literature in English and the English Language. In this way, they can contribute to developing sound language policies and curricula. Such policies and curricula will enhance the attainment of sustainable development in the land together with effective and efficient communication by the generality of Nigerians. The department is also charged with implementing university-wide communication skills in English.

To produce first-rate manpower who can effectively give and receive information in English, she uses diverse robust and vibrant literature as an integral part of the Use of English programmes. Besides, the department organises the Communication in English programme with intensity, seriousness and sensitivity that the course of such national importance demands in such a way that every student who takes it must be a successful and strategic reader and writer. Currently, our undergraduate students are sixty in number and the number of staff is ten.

Aim

To train students to acquire adequate communicative competence in both the spoken and written varieties of the English language, thereby providing them with a good grounding and effective mastery of the language, adequate self-expression, and self-actualisation.

Achievements

The department has students in high places both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. One has become a Deputy Registrar in a University and another one in one of the Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. One of them is a lecturer at one of the United States universities, one of them is a Principal Assistant Registrar (PAR) at a university in Nigeria, some of them are masters of ceremonies, some are public relations officers in various Broadcasting Institutions. Some of them are lecturers at various universities, administrators, education consultants, information officers, learning mentors, marketing executives, media researchers, Nollywood actors, primary school teachers, public relations officers, records managers and social media managers. The department started the Master’s programme in 2016 and the PhD programme was verified by the National Universities Commission in 2023. The first set of the PhD students is now in year two.

Philosophy

The programme in English language and Literature in English provides a high level of proficiency for graduates of English and generates ample competence and skills of communication. Great attention is devoted to the achievement of improved knowledge of English and the acquisition of adequate skills in speaking and writing in the language facilitating English graduates’ adequate proficiency in pronunciation, articulateness in speech, correctness of grammar and usage with elegance and style in diction in the chosen variety of English for use in the various administrative and professional job opportunities available in the labour market, in literary and creative writing domains, and postgraduate studies in language and literature.

Overview

A degree in English language and Literature in English is designed to develop in the student the habit of reading literary texts, analysing theories, critiquing prose, verse, drama, folk narratives, and more. It takes a critical look at signs and words surrounding day-to-day living. It will enable students to embark on critical, creative and analytical thinking in English studies. It focuses on combined literature and language courses with a provision for specialisation in either option.

Objective

The objectives of the programme are to:

Equip the students with the knowledge of the forms and features of the varieties of English used in different professional domains such as business communication, legal communication, electronic broadcast media, print journalism, advertising and sports commentaries, book publishing, and biography writing.
Empower the students with adequate linguistic knowledge of the English language through a detailed study of its sound system, lexicon, syntax, semantics, and usage;
Adequately prepare the students to pursue postgraduate studies in English language, and Linguistics, and to take up teaching and research at the appropriate level of education;
Orient students towards self-employment by focusing on skills such as writing (e.g. articles in magazines, or speeches; designing and presenting special programmes on radio or TV, designing and publishing magazines, etc.), creative writing, and other kinds of original output through independent thought, inventiveness and creativity;
Enable students to overcome deficiencies in their English usage.
Instil in students the skills of critical thinking, scholarly rigour, and effective writing.