Mrs Joy Okeke, Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat says plans are underway to expand Chinese language education in public schools to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and China.
Okeke disclosed this on Friday at the 19th and 25th Nigeria Division of the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary Schools and College Students held on Friday in Abuja.
According to her, language serves as a vital tool for communication, cultural transmission, commerce and international cooperation.
“It is highly commendable that the Chinese Embassy, with its 5,000 years of civilisation and over 200 million learners of Mandarin worldwide, is promoting the language up to secondary school level, particularly in the FCT.
“We are on our part putting all necessary things in order to fully commence the learning of Chinese language in our schools,” she said.
She noted that FCT schools remained the only public secondary schools in Nigeria with established Chinese Corners.
She said that at the Chinese Corners students engage in Chinese language learning, Wushu, cultural dances, lion dances, arts and crafts, as well as other exchange activities.
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Okeke also commended the Chinese Embassy for the mutually beneficial partnership, and urged students to maximise the opportunities provided through Chinese language education.
Earlier, Mr Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, said the Chinese Bridge competition had become an important platform for educational and cultural exchanges between both countries.
Yang, who is also the Director of the China Cultural Centre, added that Chinese language offers learners access to China’s rich civilisation, literature, history and cultural heritage.
“The Chinese language is a key to the treasure house of Chinese civilisation.
“It carries the poetic beauty of classical literature, the wisdom embedded in idioms and historical allusions, and the profound heritage of thousands of years of history.
“You are all in the prime of your youth, and your choice to learn Chinese and step onto the ‘Chinese Bridge’ stage is itself an act of courage and commitment,” he said.
According to him, the competition’s theme, “Chasing Dreams Through Chinese, Making Every Moment Count,” encourages students to pursue their aspirations through language learning and cultural understanding.
Yang noted that this year marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
He said the Chinese Embassy and the China Cultural Centre would continue supporting Confucius Institutes and Chinese language classrooms while creating more opportunities for youth exchanges.
“We will actively build platforms for youth exchanges between the two countries and continue holding diverse cultural events so that more Nigerian young people can carry the torch of China-Nigeria friendship into the next generation,” he said.
NAN reports that in the secondary school category, Micheal Justina of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University emerged overall winner with 95.2 points, while Umezurike Chinaetugo came second.
In the university category, Emmanuel Faith won with 94 points, while Onyeocha Ugochi placed second.
The winners of the competition will represent Nigeria at the global “Chinese Bridge” finals in China.
The first position, will participate in the international contest, where contestants who rank among the top 30 globally will receive full scholarships to study in China.
The second runner-up will also travel to China on an all-expenses-paid cultural exchange tour sponsored by the Chinese government.
(NAN)
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