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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Cultural Counsellor, China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, has said for over 10 years, the Chinese Corner has been a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures.
Yang stated this during the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School (GSS), Tudun Wada, Abuja.
He also said 12 years ago, out of the desire for China-Nigeria friendly relations and the expectation for cultural exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board of Nigeria, joined hands to establish the Chinese Corner as a unique platform for cultural and educational exchanges.
“Over the past 10 years, this seemingly simple platform has long become a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures, a bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries, and one of the most popular cultural check-in spots among teachers and students in Abuja.”
Yang noted that the Chinese Corner is not only an immersive classroom for learning Chinese and experiencing Chinese culture, but also a window to observe the world.
“Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. With the continuous improvement of China’s international influence, more and more people around the world are fond of Chinese. Whether it is participating in China-Nigeria economic and trade exchanges in the future, furthering studies in Chinese universities, or exploring the frontiers of science, technology and culture, mastering Chinese can add more possibilities to your future.
“In recent years, we have witnessed many students who have studied at the Chinese Corner: some have obtained Chinese Government Scholarships through hard work in learning Chinese and gone to China for further studies; some have entered Chinese-funded enterprises in Nigeria after graduation and become outstanding professionals; others have returned to their hometowns to work as Chinese teachers, passing on what they have gained at the Chinese Corner to more local teenagers. These are all fruitful achievements of the Chinese Corner and the most vivid examples of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Nigeria in the field of education.”
Yang added that the completion and inauguration of the Chinese Corner at GSS Tudun Wada was as a result of the generous donation and construction by CCECC Nigeria Ltd.
He said as one of the earliest Chinese-funded enterprises rooted in Nigeria, CCECC is not only a participant in Nigeria’s infrastructure construction, but also a practitioner of China-Nigeria friendship.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Yang expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude to CCECC for its contributions to the cause of China-Nigeria friendship.
In his remarks, the Secretary for Education, FCT, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed that in the recent review of the FCT Curriculum, the Chinese language has been selected as one of the international languages to offer in Senior Secondary Schools.
“That is to say that the FCT has been very visionary in introducing the subject in our schools through the Chinese corners early enough. Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world and today it has become the language of commerce, education and tourism. Our decisions to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move. Your Friendship has confirmed what the Chinese say as “Hai nei Cun zhiji tianya ruo bi lin” (a bosom friend brings distant lands near),” Hayyo said.
Director, FCT Secondary Education Board, Muhammed Sani Ladan, said the Chinese Corner is an initiative testifying to the strong bilateral relations between China and Nigeria that aims at promoting mutual understanding and people to people exchanges.
“May I notify you that Chinese Corners aims at not just fostering people to people exchanges, but to provide resources for learning Mandarin and potential scholarship to China. It is also to strengthen diplomatic relations through artistic collaboration,” Ladan said.
