The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has donated 15 sets of Chinese language teaching materials and cultural books to secondary schools, strengthening efforts to expand Chinese language education in the country.
Speaking during the handover in Abuja, the Chancellor of the Chinese Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, described the gesture as a reflection of the deep friendship between China and Nigeria. Quoting a Chinese proverb, he said: “Distance cannot separate true friends; even thousands of miles apart, we are still neighbours.”
Yang noted that initiatives such as the “Chinese Corner” have provided Nigerian students with a platform to learn Chinese and engage with Chinese culture. He explained that high-quality teaching and cultural materials would accelerate learning, while also fostering deeper cultural understanding.
“We firmly believe that every set of teaching materials donated today will become a seed of friendship,” Yang said. “These seeds will grow into towering trees that connect the hearts of Chinese and Nigerian youth.”
He also announced plans to roll out tailor-made Chinese language teaching materials and TV teaching programmes in Nigeria in 2026. The year will mark the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as well as the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria.
The Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr. Muhammed Sani Ladan, praised the donation, describing it as a product of meaningful cooperation with China through the People’s Education Press (PEP). He recalled the visit of PEP executives from Beijing, which paved the way for the current support.
Ladan emphasized that the books represent more than just a gift, but a tool for empowerment and long-term knowledge transfer. “In those books, we are going to learn how to catch fish rather than being given a fish,” he remarked, stressing that education remains the key to life, wealth, and freedom.
He expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for the support and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cultural and educational ties with China. “You have genuinely given us life and fulfilled the Chinese principle of shared prosperity for humanity,” he concluded.
