Prof. Chinwe Jane Okolo
Director, French Centre
Professor Chinwe Jane Okolo is a respected scholar and university administrator specialising in Francophone African and Caribbean literature and foreign language education. She is a Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, and the Director of the French Centre. She has also held leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Foreign Languages and Coordinator of the French Unit and the Franco–AE-FUNAI Collaboration, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and educational advancement.
Professor Okolo holds a PhD in African Literature of French Expression, an MA in French and a BA.Ed. in French from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She also obtained the Diplôme Supérieur d’Études Françaises, IIIème Degré and the Diplôme d’Études Françaises, IIème Degré from the Université de Grenoble, France. Her academic career spans more than two decades of teaching, research, mentorship, institutional leadership and community service at Ebonyi State University and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike.
Her research interests encompass Francophone African and Caribbean literature, literary criticism, French-language pedagogy, translation studies, multilingual education, and cultural studies, as well as the integration of emerging technologies in language teaching and learning. She has authored numerous scholarly articles, contributed to various book chapters, and published the monograph L’inscription de l’espace dans les romans de Sony Labou Tansi. Additionally, her recent research endeavours explore topics such as artificial intelligence, gamification, virtual and augmented reality, language policy, cultural identity, and technology-enhanced education.
A notable aspect of Professor Okolo’s professional development is her participation in the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Through this programme, she obtained certificates in:
- Artificial Intelligence for Teaching, Research and Community Service;
- Writing Grant-Winning Proposals and Fundraising;
- Basic Cybersecurity for Higher Education;
- Mastering Digital Survey Tools for Research and Evidence-Based Decision-Making; and
- Mastering University Rankings for Global Visibility.
Professor Okolo is an esteemed member of the University French Teachers’ Association of Nigeria and the Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Français. Additionally, she is a charter member of several professional associations focused on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and university rankings. She has actively participated in numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and professional development programs in Nigeria, France, and Togo.
In addition to her academic duties, Professor Okolo, a distinguished Lady of the Knights of St. Mulumba and a holder of a traditional title in her village of Isingwu, Oraifite, has made noteworthy contributions to educational administration, women’s leadership, religious organisations, and community development. She is fluent in Igbo, English, and French and is dedicated to advancing French studies, literary scholarship, digital innovation, and capacity development within Nigerian higher education.
