By Sarafina Christopher
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board has commissioned the 14th Chinese Corner in the FCT.
Group Photograph of dignitaries at the commissioning in Abuja.
Mr Yang Jianxing, the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy, made this known at the commissioning of the corner at Government Secondary School Tudun Wada, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said that the Chinese Corner was to strengthen Sino-Nigerian cultural and educational ties.
The commissioning was organised by the China Cultural Centre in Abuja and donated by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Nigeria.
Jianxing said that the initiative, which began in 2013 with the first Chinese Corner at GSS Garki, had grown into a network of cultural hubs across the FCT.
He also noted that the corner served as a platform for learning Mandarin, accessing scholarship opportunities in China, and deepening people-to-people exchanges.
“Chinese Corner is more than a classroom. It is ‘a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures, a bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries’.
“Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
“Whether it is participating in Sino-Nigeria economic and trade exchanges in the future, furthering studies in Chinese universities or exploring science, technology and culture, mastering Chinese can add more possibilities to your future,” the cultural counsellor said.
Yang also expressed appreciation to the CCECC Nigeria Ltd., which donated and constructed the new Corner.
He said the company had not only contributed to Nigeria’s infrastructure but also repaid society through social responsibility projects.
“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 Sino-Nigeria friendship,” he said.
Dr Danlami Hayyo, Secretary for Education, FCT, said the Corners had opened new opportunities for students and staff to gain global exposure.
“Our staff and teachers too have benefitted from the collaboration by attending capacity buildings in China.
“Today, we are proud to say that it is only the FCT that has Chinese Corners in its schools in the whole Federation,” he said.
Hayyo also noted that Chinese language had recently been included as an international language option in the senior secondary school curriculum.
“This shows the foresight of the FCT in introducing the subject through the Corners early enough,” he added.
Dr Muhammed Ladan, Director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, described the new facility as “a cultural and educational hub, established to foster deeper Sino-Nigeria ties.”
He thanked the Chinese Embassy and CCECC for their “conscious effort” in executing corporate social responsibility projects that benefitted Nigerian schools.
“Your contribution to our cultural and educational development is written in gold in the annals of our history. We are grateful,” Ladan said.
The Director of Corporate Culture Department at CCECC, Zane Peng, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development.
“CCECC Nigeria Limited is a construction company in Nigeria, and we should do more construction and contribute to the development of Nigeria.
“That means that the China and Nigeria partnership is better than before,” he said.
The highlight of the event were cultural dances by the students.
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