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By Damiete Braide
Grace Schools, Lagos has earned commendation from the Chinese Consulate for its sustained commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture, a move described as strengthening educational ties and intercultural understanding between Nigeria and China.
The commendation was made during a visit by the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing who toured the school’s facilities to witness firsthand its investment in Chinese language education and cultural exchange.
The school has incorporated Chinese language into its curriculum for the past 16 years as part of its commitment to producing globally competitive students. It said the initiative is aimed at equipping learners with international communication skills while broadening their cultural knowledge.
Speaking during the visit, Yuqing praised the school for its remarkable efforts in promoting Chinese language and culture through the outstanding performances of its students. She noted that the integration of Chinese studies into the school’s curriculum has contributed significantly to fostering stronger educational and cultural relations between both countries.
Expressing her excitement, the Consul General said she felt as though she was visiting a school in China because of the students’ impressive command of the language and their understanding of Chinese traditions.
“I feel excited as if I am in a Chinese school,” she said, adding that she fell in love with Nigeria during her first visit to the country and was delighted by Grace Schools’ dedication to teaching Chinese language with excellence.
Yuqing assured the management that the Chinese Consulate would continue to collaborate with the institution through more cultural and educational exchange programmes in recognition of its commitment to promoting Chinese arts, language and culture.
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Chief Executive Officer of Grace Schools, Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun, described the Consul General’s visit as a significant endorsement of the school’s vision of promoting educational excellence through intercultural learning.
She noted that the visit marked the second time a Chinese Consul General had visited the school, describing it as evidence of the institution’s leadership in Chinese language education in Lagos and Nigeria.
Edun explained that the school has built a strong partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos, through which many of its teachers have received professional training in the teaching and use of the Chinese language.
According to her, the school’s investment in language education is driven by its vision of raising students who can compete successfully on the global stage.
“Our vision is to provide qualitative learning that produces globally acclaimed scholars who will occupy their rightful place in the world,” she said.
The visit featured a variety of cultural displays by students, including Chinese language presentations, documentary exhibitions on Chinese learning, traditional Chinese songs and dem onstrations of Chinese cultural practices.
One of the major attractions of the event was a captivating performance by the Badagry Sato drum troupe, which showcased Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and underscored the spirit of cultural exchange promoted by the occasion.
