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EUROLAC is an acronym for European language centre founded by an Akwa Ibom-born, Igbo-married and German-trained entrepreneur, Mrs. Grace Obot Maduka in 2008 with an aim of promoting the Learning of Nigerian and Foreign Languages in Nigeria for different purposes and to organize events, seminars and Trainings that will encourage Language Learning in Nigeria. She was driven by passion to establish Language school for German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic and Chinese in Nigeria
Courses offered for at levels based on the European Portfolio.
Mrs. Grace Obot Maduka who speaks seven foreign languages fluently, has variously studied and graduated from University of Yaounde in Cameroon; University of Ibadan and University of Saarbruecken in Germany as well as Heinrich Heine Universitaet of Dusseldorf, has over the years worked for Federal Ministries of Women Affairs as well as that of Youths and Social Development as tutor for migrant youths. She also has a dint as a social worker as German tutor for migrant women. Married to Mr. Cyprian Arinze Maduka and the union is blessed with three kids.
EUROLAC with its headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a branch study center in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State that started in 2014 has made waves in the Nigerian, European as well as Asian educational sectors with over 760 students trained since its inception in different foreign languages with direct access to German tuition free scholarship in Germany to study medicine, engineering etc.
Aside its effort to improve academic aspect of Nigerians through Overseas scholarship, EUROLAC has contributed significantly in the socio-economic sector of Nigerian economy. This is done in different ways as the organization has contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through tax payment and employment generation. Presently, EUROLAC has about 20 staff strength that run the affairs of the organization including expertise. As part of its efforts to further strengthen the economy of Nigeria, EUROLAC has concluded plans to start an international language examination centre in 2016. By this, candidates from West Africa and its environs would twice in a year take their foreign language examinations in Nigeria to qualify them travel overseas for further studies and residency. According to EUROLAC source, the German Ambassador to Nigeria is expected in Akwa Ibom State in the first quarter of 2016 to ascertain EUROLAC’s readiness for the takeoff of the examination centre among other issues.
As part of the social activities of EUROLAC of creating a meeting point between management and parents of students that are travelling to study in Germany tagged, “INFOTAG/INFO DAY”, which was held last weekend at 13 Afia Street, off Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, being venue for the Uyo study centre. In her speech, the Director of EUROLAC, Mrs. Grace Obot Maduka welcomed parents, special guests and students for attending the event. She stressed that though they teach more than seven foreign languages alongside with some local languages, she places more value and concentration on German language because of the tuition free programme offered in Germany to international students. She used the forum to sensitize participants on career choices, subject combinations, adaptation technics, meeting expenses, part time jobs among other areas of interests to parents.
In a lecture christened, “German Educational System” a senior Lecturer in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr. Mazi Nwankwor thrilled participants on the benefits of schooling in Germany. Dr. Nwankwor, himself a former student in a Germany university noted that German tuition free education for foreign students affords Nigerians the opportunity to get the best of out their educational career and create a forum for international links and relationship. He encouraged parents and others desiring to have a good academic standing to take advantage of the opportunity.
A cross section of students including youth corps members studying foreign languages in EUROLAC including Utibe Ebong, a graduate of Architecture, University of Uyo; Archibong Joseph, Electrical/Electronic graduate and Adedeji Oluwagbemiga, a Mechanical Engineering graduate said they studied foreign languages to boost their chances of employment in multi-national companies, gained access to improved technologies and help in the development of Nigeria.
Parents present at the event among others including Mr. Anselem Udo, Mrs. Mfonobong Ebong, Mrs. Justina Etuk and Hon. Ichuko Ben who to our reporter said that they wanted their children to to have a knack in foreign language in order to broaden their perspectives and escape intermittent strike actions in the Nigerian tertiary Institutions.
The event featured interactive session. Other personalities that graced the event included Mr. Cyprian Arinze Maduka, husband to the director; Mr. Ini Eyiboh Okon, Principal, Ritman College, Ikot Ekpene; our Evang. Saviour Ekpe, Editor-in-Chief among others.
