When the Centre was established during the 1969/70 academic session, it was named Centre for the Study of Nigerian Languages, so as to continue the work of the defunct “Hausa Language Board” established by the then Northern Region of Nigeria. The original aim for the establishment of the Centre was to promote the use of Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri languages, literatures and cultures. It assumed its name during the 1970/71 session since Fulfulde, Kanuri, Jukun, Bade, etc, were added to the list of languages. This was the first centre of its kind in Northern Nigeria when Abdullahi Bayero College (B.U.K of today) was a campus of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. It started with one academic staff (the Director) and two administrative staff – a secretary and a typist. Since its establishment the centre has been administered by eleven Directors. These are; Professor Paul Newman, Professor Emeritus Dandatti Abdulkadir, Professor Abba Rufa’i, Malam Abdullahi Umar Kafin Hausa, Professor Bello Sa’id, Professor Maikudi Karaye, Professor Abdu Yahaya Bichi, Professor Lawan Danladi Yalwa, Professor Sammani Sani, Aliyu Mu’azu and Professor Yakubu Magaji Azare who is the current director.
In April 2014 the University approved the change of name of the centre from Centre for the Study in Nigerian Languages (CSNL) to “Centre for Research in Nigerian Languages and Folklore” (CRNL&F). In 2017 the University approved the modification of the name of the Centre to include Translation. The new name reads: “Centre for Research in Nigerian Languages, Translation and Folklore” (CRNLT&F). Today apart from the Director and his two deputies the Centre has one Emeritus Professor and six administrative staff, which include the secretary, librarian, four junior staff and a driver.