The Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria (CCCN), Mr. Yang Jianxing, has encouraged more Nigerians to learn Chinese as a way to foster deeper cultural exchange, strengthen trade, and drive economic development between China and Nigeria.
Mr. Yang made this call during the “China-Africa Good Partners: 2024 Nigeria Speech Contest,” held in Abuja on Saturday. The event, organized by CCCN in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Lagos State University, Ojo, highlighted the importance of language as a bridge between cultures.
“I am communicating with you in English, which is challenging for me, but it allows me to share my thoughts and connect with others. Likewise, I hope that by learning Chinese, more Nigerians can serve as ambassadors for cultural exchange and friendship between our two nations,” said Yang, who also serves as the Cultural Counselor for the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.
Yang emphasized the role of language in diplomacy and economic growth, noting that proficient speakers of foreign languages help to forge connections between people and nations. “We need skilled language learners to promote people-to-people relationships, which are essential for both cultural understanding and economic development,” he added.
The event celebrated the language skills of Nigerian students, with participants showcasing their fluency in Chinese. Miss Mabel Ugwuanyi, a student from the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra State, won the grand prize of 250,000 naira. Mabel shared that she initially studied Chinese with the aim of becoming a translator to support her family. However, her journey took on a deeper significance over time.
“I originally intended to stop at level 3 and work as a translator, but as I continued, I realized it wasn’t my plan, but God’s,” she said, encouraging other learners with the Chinese proverb, “The beginning is always difficult, but if you persist, you will succeed.”
Through events like these, CCCN and its partners hope to inspire more Nigerians to learn Chinese, recognizing the language as a tool for both personal advancement and the strengthening of Nigeria-China relations.
