Welcome to the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
The Department was established over half a century ago, in our university which incidentally is 70 years this year. The Department of Linguistics is a composite one comprising three Units, namely Linguistics, Yoruba and Igbo with programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in each of these Units with the exception of Igbo at the graduate level. Our mission and vision statements clearly present the principles and goals that drive our Department.

The department ranks among the best within the Faculty endowed with two Emeriti Professors and other eight Professors, exclusive of other nine academic staff whose status range between Reader and Assistant Lecturer. A number of our lecturers are Alexander von Humboldt fellows and have benefitted from the Mac Arthur Foundation grants. Our Alumni have distinguished themselves globally securing appointments in universities of repute at both international and national levels and even the BBC due to their competence and innovative skills. There are also adjunct teachers with experience from the world, working together with regular staff on the road to success.

The department has on a constant basis produced first class and second class upper students in the Baccalaureate list in the last few years. A number of our students often qualify for and are selected by the University for her Entrepreneurial Programme specially designed for exceptionally good students. At the graduate level, the department has in the last five years had university scholars seconded to the department as assistants but paid by the Postgraduate College. Annually, some of our students are selected to teach Yoruba abroad by the United States of America Consulate through a keen selective process open to applicants from other universities across the country. Our students readily secure scholarship for admission to further their studies in high ranking universities abroad.

There is opportunity for combined honours programmes with other disciplines within the faculty and in actual fact our students and staff have co-authored published articles and documented linguistic data with the medical sciences. Our undergraduate students every year travel across Nigeria to document and archive the endangered languages of Nigeria.   Our library is functional, has computers and contains new books and journals for students’ use at any official time. Students also have free access to Lecturers’ personal libraries. The university library also augments rich current text in the departmental Library.

Two student Associations are domiciled in the Department and they avail students the opportunity to sharpen their language, literary and social skills, and participation in Public Speaking and Jaw War sessions. We look forward to having you in our university and department to be good ambassadors of your sponsors and do our university proud by being worthy alumni.

Prof. P. O. Taiwo
Head of Department

A Sub-Department of Phonetics created in 1958 in the Department of English became and independent Department of Linguistics and Nigeria languages in 1962, which has metamorphosed to the present Department of Linguistics and African languages. 

As in some other parts of the world, postgraduate training preceded the undergraduate.  There was first the postgraduate certificate in Phonetics (1961) followed by the Postgraduate Certificate in Phonetics and Linguistics and (1963), then a Postgraduate Diploma in Linguistics (1969). Today, the Department runs the Masters of Arts, Masters of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy programmes in all areas of General Linguistics, and Language and the Literatures of Yoruba and Igbo. First-degree programmes began in two areas - Linguistics and Yoruba - in 1966.  Sub-degree programmes were also run in Hausa and Igbo. Igbo now has a full degree status.

Over the years, the Department has made remarkable contributions to linguistic and literary scholarship in Nigeria’s many languages. There has been the development of orthographies for the minor languages, alongside the harmonization and modernization of those which were in use before the advent of modern linguistics.  The first full-length analyses of Nigerian languages and their associated literatures were invariably done in Ibadan.  Products of its postgraduate programmes are to be found today in the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Literatures of recently established universities. They also play prominent roles in academic associations such as the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), the West African Linguistic Society (WALS) and the Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN).  Ben Elugbe, a member of our first set of undergraduates, is currently the West African Linguistic Society President.  One of her founding faculty members, Ayo Bamgbose The first graduate student of the Department, Kay R M Williamson, who enrolled in 1956, does not only become a Professor in the Department but was also the pioneer Professor of Linguistics at the University of Port-Harcourt. 

In October 1972, a proficiency course in Yoruba was introduced.  This was in response to demands for such a course, especially by visiting foreign students interested in learning the language.  A two-year proficiency course in Hausa was introduced in 1969, and a two-year course in Igbo for those already proficient in the language began in 1972.  These courses were rested as a result of the dwindling international student enrolment and expansion of the Igbo programme in particular.  Inability to retain Hausa teachers led to the collapse of the Hausa programme.  There is now a growing demand for Yoruba language by international students from Yoruba programmes abroad.  We receive requests for cooperation and hosting from time to time. 

Three programmes, Linguistics, Igbo and Yoruba are currently domiciled in the Department.

B.A. Linguistics (Single and Combined Honours) In addition to meeting the University of Ibadan entry requirements and those of the Faculty of Arts, candidates seeking admission to the B.A. Degree Programme in Linguistics should have earned credits in five subjects including English Language and any other two Arts subjects at the Ordinary Level. Candidates should also have sat for two other Arts subjects besides English Language at UME.

B.A. Yoruba (Single and Combined Honours) In addition to meeting the University of Ibadan entry requirements and those of the Faculty of Arts, candidates seeking admission to the B.A. Degree Programme in Yoruba should have earned credits in five subjects including English Language and Yoruba and any other Arts subject at the Ordinary Level. Candidates should also have sat for English, Yoruba and one other Arts subject at UME.

B.A. Igbo (Single and Combined Honours) In addition to meeting the University of Ibadan entry requirements and those of the Faculty of Arts, candidates seeking admission to the B.A. Degree Programme in Igbo should have earned credits in five subjects including English Language and Igbo and any other Arts subject at the Ordinary Level. Candidates should also have sat for English, Igbo and one other Arts subject at UME.