Language Policy and German Language Education in Nigerian Federal Universities: An Institutional Analysis

This study conducts an institutional analysis of language policy frameworks governing German language education in Nigerian federal universities, examining the alignment between national language policy instruments, university-level language policies, and the actual delivery of German language programmes at selected institutions in the South West, North Central, and South East geopolitical zones. Nigeria's official language policy, as articulated in the National Policy on Education, foregrounds indigenous languages and English but offers ambiguous guidance on the status and resourcing of foreign language education in tertiary institutions. This policy ambiguity has practical consequences for the planning, resourcing, and sustainability of German language departments. The study employs a qualitative document analysis design, examining national policy documents, university academic regulations, faculty constitutions, and departmental programme documents at six federal universities. Semi-structured interviews with six German department heads and four university language policy officers supplement the documentary data. Findings reveal significant inconsistencies between stated policy commitments and budgetary allocations to German language departments. The study develops a policy gap framework applicable to foreign language education governance in Nigeria and recommends the development of an explicit national policy for European foreign language education in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Keywords: language policy, German language education, federal universities, Nigeria, institutional analysis.