By Othuke Evro
To strengthen ties in education, the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, in collaboration with the FCT Secondary Education Board on Tuesday, hosted a joint ceremony.
The ceremony which took place at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, marked the “Chinese Corner” 13th Inauguration Ceremony and “Nihao China” Painting Competition Award Ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, stated that over the past 10 years, under the cooperation of the Chinese Embassy and the FCT Secondary School Board, they have built many Chinese Corners around Abuja. And the China Harbour Engineering Company contributed to the building of the latest one.
“After I arrived here, I noticed that this is a wonderful Chinese Corner. It is equipped with computers, with Chinese books and Chinese movies. And I am very happy to learn that over the years, many students have benefited from the Chinese Corner”, he said.
“In this regard, I would like to re-echo what the Principal of this school said; “in a fast changing world, it is important to increase the understanding of diversity”. So I think the Chinese Corner has contributed to cross-culture communication and the students by committing to Chinese Culture and Chinese history, it broadens their vision and in the future, they will become messengers and ambassadors between our two countries”, the Ambassador stated.
Ambassador Yu Dunhai also noted that education holds the key to the development of any country.
“We have learnt from our own experience that China is a developing country. Just like 40 years ago, in 1980, people who took high-level education in China were roughly one hundred thousand per year. By the year 2000, it reached roughly one million per year. Last year, we had roughly ten million per year. And I believe a high level of education has contributed to China’s development over the past forty years. I think for Nigeria; education also holds the key to national economic and social development. So that is why China would very much like to be a great partner with Nigeria in the educational sector. During President Tinubu’s last successful visit to China, the two Presidents reached a very important agreement to elevate our bilateral relations to new heights. And among this very, very important consensus is to increase the high-level education exchanges between our two countries”, he stated and continued.
“So, I would like to assure you that in the future, the Chinese Embassy would like to contribute more to build more Chinese Corners across Abuja and provide more opportunities for teachers and students to visit China and to train in China”, he declared.
Mrs Josephine Ogwu, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, while delivering her welcome remark, stated that China’s friendly relationships with Nigeria date back to 1971 and have been marked by significant economic, political and cultural ties enhanced by the vital role of culture and education in promoting strong and effective relationships between nations.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Muhammed Sani Ladan, Director/Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, posited that the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria inaugurated the first Chinese Corner on the 16th February 2013, at GSS Garki, Area 10, and since then, it has been a success story.
With this inauguration, Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, has become the 12th China Corner in the FCT and its environs and the 13th in Nigeria.
Other dignitries who attended the ceremony imclude, Mrs Josephine Ogwu, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Dr Muhammed Sani Ladan, Director/Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, Mr Martin Chen, Chairman of China Harbour Engineering Company (NIG) LTD, Hajiya Fatima Gambo Babba, Director Co-curricular, FCT Second Education Board, Mr Paul Ejeh, Director Bilateral Relations Office of the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Principals, teachers and students from the thirteen Chinese Corners, among others.
