By Othuke Evroh
Mr. Yang Jianxing, the Director of China Cultural Centre in Nigeria and Cultural Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, has stated that ”Dumpling” is far more than a traditional food in the People’s Republic of China.
Mr. Yang Jianxing made this remark on Friday 14th Febuary, at the Chinese Cultural Centre during the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year with teachers, students and stakeholders from the 13 Chinese Corners in Abuja.
”In ancient China, the shape of the most expensive gold is similar with the dumpling. And so, Chinese people really hope that through eating dumpling, the traditional Chinese Spring festival food, they can get richer. Dumpling symbolizes wealth, prosperity, long life and reunion with friends and family. Dumpling is not just food, it is also a blessing food”, he stated.
Mr. Yang Jianxing also noted that the first day of the Lunar New Year was 29th January and by implication, the 17th day of the New Year.
”So, today is the 17th day of the Lunar New Year and we are still in the period of celebrating it. This New Year 2025 is a snake year and we hope that all of us can renew ourselves, renew our progress. We at the Cultural Centre have invited you today not only to express our gratitude, but also renew our understanding, friendship, culture exchange, cooperation and prosperity under the leadership of the FCT Secondary Education Board”, he declared.
Also speaking at the event, Haj. Fatima Gambo Babba, Director, Co-Curricular FCT Secondary Education Board, in her goodwill message, expressed her profound gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for establishing another Chinese Corner in Wuse, Zone 3.
”I want to sincerely appreciate you for the new Chinese Corner in Wuse zone 3 that has been added to the existing Corners. I want to also appreciate you for inviting us, the teachers and the students to celebrate your New Year with you. I also want to appreciate you for the Chinese Cultural Competitions between the schools whereby we were given so many awards. Yearly, this has been on, so we sincerely want to thank you and assure you that we will continue to keep the relationship going and do all we could to ensure that we maintain this relationship. Thank you sincerely for touching our schools”, she said.
The celebration also featured video highlights from the 2025 Chinese New Year celebrations in China, personal anecdotes from teachers at the Chinese Corners, who shared their memories and experiences of visiting China and the preparation and serving of ”Dumpling”, to guests.
The celebration brought together staff and students from the Chinese Corners in Abuja and guests from the FCT Secondary Education Board.
