THE Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board, on Tuesday, inaugurated a new ‘Chinese Corner’ in Abuja, aimed at strengthening cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.
Stakeholders said the initiative will further equip Nigerian students with linguistic and cultural skills that open doors to opportunities in education, trade and technology.
Speaking at the ceremony, which held at the Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja, the Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Yang Jianxing, expressed gratitude to the FCT Secondary Education Board, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited (CCECC) and other stakeholders for supporting the expansion of the initiative.
Jianxing recalled that the first Chinese Corner was established 12 years ago as a platform to connect China and Nigerian cultures, adding that it has since become a hub for students that eager to learn Mandarin and explore Chinese traditions.
He said: “For students, the Chinese Corner is not only an immersive classroom for learning Chinese and experiencing culture but also a window to observe the world. Many of its beneficiaries have secured Chinese government scholarships, joined Chinese-funded companies in Nigeria or even become Chinese teachers themselves.”
He commended the CCECC, which constructed the new facility, describing the company as both a contributor to Nigeria’s infrastructure and a committed partner in China-Nigeria friendship.
Also speaking, the Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr. Muhammed Sani Ladan, said the initiative, which began in 2013, currently boasts of multiple centers across Abuja.
He noted that the Chinese Corner has become a symbol of people-to-people diplomacy, promoting Mandarin learning, cultural exchanges and potential academic opportunities in China.
Ladan said: “Your contribution to our cultural and educational development is written in gold in our annals of history. We are grateful to the Chinese Embassy and CCECC Nigeria for this laudable project.”
In her remarks, the Principal, Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Mrs. Irene Mojisola Akerele, lauded the gesture, noting that the facility would provide students with an opportunity to learn Mandarin and deepen their appreciation of Chinese culture.
She said: “We are very pleased with this gesture of appreciating students in this school, enabling us to come and learn the Chinese language is a symbol of a bilateral relationship between the Chinese and Nigerians, and its ability to foster unity among us. That also makes us one of the Chinese Corner schools in FCT with this new innovation.
“From the center, you will notice that everything here is purely Chinese and as such, the students will get acquainted with the drawings, the paintings and the books that are donated to the school.
“And the Chinese center trains teachers. So, we believe that very soon, we are going to have a teacher trained to come and put us through the learning of this language here.
On his part, the Director of Corporate Culture at CCECC Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Zane Peng, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s development and cultural cooperation.
He said: “The partnership and friendship between Nigeria and China have grown stronger, and CCECC will continue to contribute to the country’s development.”
