Abstract

This paper focuses on the Nigerian Translator-training programmes and its challenges. It is a descriptive research premised on a problem raised by Akakuru that most translation graduates from Nigerian universities can neither translate nor talk about translation. This paper sets out to investigate the validity of the statement and to point out where the problems lie as well as propose some solutions to them. Data for this work were collected from websites of some Nigerian universities that train translators up to the Masters and Ph.D. levels. Data were also collected from the websites of some renowned African, European and Canadian universities that equally train translators up to the Masters and Ph.D. levels and whose graduates are performing well in the field of translation in and out of their countries of origin. A comparative analysis of the data collected reveals some lacuna in the Nigerian Postgraduate Translator-Training Programmes at the levels of the trainees, the trainers and the content of the programmes themselves. The paper further suggests that the way forward for a successful translator-training programme in Nigeria is to adapt and implement the European and the Canadian models.