By Olasunkanmi Olajide, Joy Adeyiga and Ridwan Sulaiman
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has once again placed Nigeria at the heart of global academic discourse, as one of its foremost scholars, Prof. Bosede Sinmisola Sotiloye, boldly called for sweeping reforms in the teaching and structure of the English language.
Delivering FUNAAB’s 104th Inaugural Lecture, today, September 17, 2025, and titled “This ‘Weird’ English: Who is Afraid of Evolution?” Prof. Sotiloye, an expert in Teaching English as a Second Language, challenged stakeholders to embrace a learner-friendly approach to English that reflects modern realities.
She argued that English, the world’s most widely spoken second language, remains riddled with inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation that frustrate learners, particularly in non-native contexts like Nigeria. To address this, she called for a simplified, phonetic spelling system, stressing that language must evolve to remain relevant in today’s digital and globalised world.
“Is anyone still afraid of this evolution?” she asked, urging governments, language policymakers, and global professional bodies to embrace reforms that would make English easier to learn, teach, and use.
Beyond spelling, Prof. Sotiloye stressed the need to modernise English language education by establishing fully equipped language laboratories to strengthen oral English proficiency, as well as increase contact hours for English as a Second Language (ESL) courses and introducing listening and speaking skills early in students’ academic journey. She stated further that leveraging technology to shift classrooms from teacher-centred instruction to student-focused learning.
Prof. Sotiloye, a member of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), also made a strong case for cultivating reading culture among students, noting that “a good reader is presumed to be a good writer.”
The lecture, attended by academics, students, and dignitaries at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building, was chaired by FUNAAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde. He lauded Prof. Sotiloye’s scholarship and decades of service, describing her as a “pillar of communication and English studies in Nigeria” whose contributions have shaped teaching, research, and academic leadership at FUNAAB and beyond.
With more than 50 scholarly publications, decades of teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and active roles in national and international associations such as the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), and National Association of Teachers and Researchers of English (NATRESL), Prof. Sotiloye has become a strong voice for language reform on the global stage.
Her message is clear: Nigeria, through scholarship and innovation, can lead the global conversation on the evolution of English.
