The Chinese community in Lagos has donated eight laptops to support the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, reaffirming its commitment to the development of Nigeria’s education sector.

The donation was made in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education as part of activities marking this year’s celebration, themed, “Standing with Teachers.”

Speaking at the event, President of the Association of Chinese Women in Nigeria, Zhou Jun, said education remained central to the Chinese community’s engagement with Nigeria.

Zhou said, “A nation is not held up by buildings or wealth alone. It is held up by the people who shape minds and character, and that is the work of teachers.”

She said the association worked alongside the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, the Huaxing Arts Troupe Nigeria and the China Industrial and Commercial Enterprise Association to support various humanitarian and educational initiatives in the country.

Outlining some of the community’s interventions, Zhou said it had renovated schools to provide safer learning environments for students and teachers, while scholarships had been awarded to more than 9,000 students across the country.

She also said the community’s charity programme, “Renewed Hope, Rebirth of the Light,” had restored the sight of more than 900 people living with cataracts through surgeries.

According to her, the community had also provided food and household supplies to low-income families under its “Together Fight Against Hunger” charity programme.

“A hungry child cannot learn well, and a struggling community cannot grow,” she said.

Zhou said the Chinese community would continue to work with schools, students and teachers, adding that Nigeria-China relations were built “not only on trade and diplomacy, but also on shared values, mutual respect, and a common hope for the next generation.”

Also speaking, a member of the Chinese community, Zhao Ming, described teachers as the backbone of society because of their role in transmitting knowledge and values to younger generations.

Ming said his respect for the teaching profession was personal, noting that both his mother and grandfather were teachers.

He said the contribution of teachers to national development made it necessary for individuals, communities and organisations to provide them with the support and tools required to perform their duties effectively.

Ming described the donation of the laptops as a practical gesture of support for educators and the Nigerian education system, saying the initiative was intended to honour teachers while contributing to the growth of the education sector.

The donation, he added, formed part of broader efforts by the Chinese community to strengthen people-to-people ties between Nigeria and China.