The Chinese government has called for outstanding Nigerian creative content programmes to air on Chinese televisions and online platforms. The call was made on Monday by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yu Dunhai, at the official launch of the China-Africa Audiovisual Showcase in Nigeria.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced during the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) the joint launch of the China-Africa Initiative on Radio, Television and Audiovisual, an initiative that stemmed from the understanding that, as the relationship between China and Africa grows, audiovisual content remains critical as a bridge for people-to-people exchange.
Both countries also agreed to deepen mutual learning of their civilisations while building bonds of friendship.
Meanwhile, over 20 carefully selected programmes, including Welcome to Milele, The Ideal City and Better Life, are already featuring on the StarTimes channel of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Customs Broadcasting Network and other television channels in the country.
In his remarks, Ambassador Dunhai noted that audiovisual cooperation bridges cultural differences and deepens mutual understanding between China and Nigeria, adding that both countries have a long history of exchange, and that the bond of friendship has grown stronger with time, with FOCAC being a flagship platform in the past 25 years, steering the course of relations.
According to the envoy, this has constantly injected vital energy into cooperation in political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges between both countries.
“As Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out, we need to build a stronger and broader bridge for China-Africa cultural exchanges to bring our people closer and more connected.
“As a vital medium in this effort, audiovisual cooperation bridges our cultural differences and deepens our mutual understanding. Today’s event is not just a display of our progress in this field but the opening of new opportunities in China-Nigeria people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The year 2026 marks an important milestone.
“It will be the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges, and it is also going to be the 55th anniversary of China-Nigeria diplomatic ties. Over the past half century, China and Nigeria relations have gone from strength to strength, with political mutual trust consolidated, economic and trade cooperation yielding fruitful results, and people-to-people exchange flourishing.”
The envoy was also impressed with his recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who expressed satisfaction with the current status of China-Nigeria bilateral relations.
“China stands ready to work with Nigeria to enhance two-way communication and to further deepen our media cooperation. We look forward to sharing more audiovisual works that present the Nigerian audience with a true and dimensional image of China, one that is credible, reliable and amicable.
“Likewise, we warmly welcome more outstanding Nigerian audiovisual products into the Chinese market, so that more Chinese audiences can hear African stories and experience the unique charm of Nigeria.
“Civilisations flourish when we exchange and learn from each other. Friendships thrive when we build on trust and shared aspirations,” the envoy said.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, pledged Nigeria’s commitment to facilitating international partnerships and harnessing talents.
He said the audiovisual showcase will enhance Nigerian broadcasting capacity and technological competence to ensure that cultural diplomacy becomes a driver of national unity, growth and global influence.
Represented by the Director-General, NTA, Mr Salihu Dembos, he said that while nations may differ in language or geography, they are united by a shared appreciation of art, creativity and human expression. He expressed hope that the exhibition will mark the beginning of deeper cooperation, stronger relationships and new opportunities for both countries.
Also, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, National Radio and Television Administration of China (NRTA China), Mr Shi Zhiyan, who led his team from Beijing, said that with over 100 million Internet users in Nigeria, the audiovisual market is large and the cooperation promising.
In the context of information technology transformation, he admitted that both countries are confronted with common tasks and challenges in promoting media transformation and industrial upgrading.
Zhiyan therefore suggested strengthening the policy concept of communication to fully take advantage of mechanistic platforms such as the China-Nigeria Media Cooperation Forum, and to focus on topics such as the development of the audiovisual industry and artificial intelligence applications.
“The second is to deepen the policy dialogue, to share experiences and to jointly construct a comprehensive governance system for the modernisation of broadcasting and audiovisual.
“The third is to deepen the audiovisual content exchange. We are willing to continue to develop the broadcasting exchange programme with the Nigerian side and to understand each other for the people of China and Nigeria,” he added.
He added that China will support the development and joint production of the two sides’ audiovisual institutions, especially to lead young people to participate in the production of micro-video and short video, and to create a batch of China-Nigeria broadcasting content to continue to tell the story of China-Nigeria friendship.
“The fourth is to expand cooperation in the technology industry. In recent years, super high-definition artificial intelligence and other industrial technologies have been widely applied in the audiovisual field.
“China has accumulated a lot of experience in the field of media integration, digitalisation and emergency broadcasting. We are willing to cooperate with Nigeria to uphold the principle of building and sharing, and to develop media with technological innovation and new audiovisual broadcasting. The fourth is to increase personnel exchange.
“Under the framework of the plan, we will focus on countering fake information, organise short-term research for African countries and welcome the Nigerian side to actively participate.
“At the same time, we also welcome Nigeria to participate in international film festivals such as the Shanghai Film Festival to exchange experiences and jointly promote the high-quality development of broadcasting audiovisual,” he added.
Also speaking, Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, said the China-Africa audiovisual showcase represents a bridge between both continents, fosters understanding and celebrates rich, diverse cultures through the universal language of the audiovisual world.
“It is a robust framework for a future built on content collaboration, shared broadcasting platforms, advanced transmission networks and critical personnel exchange. They are the essential pillars for building a dynamic, inclusive and innovative media ecosystem for the 21st century,” he said.
