The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria held the 24th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students on Friday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
Organized in collaboration with the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, the China General Chamber of Commerce, Huawei Technologies Limited, and the Confucius Institutes of the University of Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the event was attended by embassy officials, heads of Chinese enterprises in Nigeria, academic scholars, and students.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Yang Jianxing, Director of the China Cultural Centre and Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, said language is an important bridge that fosters people-to-people connections and enhances bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria.
He described the participants as “emissaries of Chinese-Nigerian friendship” and “inheritors and founders” of a shared cultural legacy. He stressed that language is not just a tool for communication but a vital link that connects hearts and fosters mutual respect.
“The excellent performance of Nigerian youth in this competition shows their passion and talent for Chinese culture,” Yang said.
“These achievements are a vivid proof of the cooperation between China and Nigeria and a reflection of the results of people-to-people exchanges.
“The diplomatic relationship between a country and a people is that of a people-to-people relationship. It is about knowing each other, understanding each other’s strengths, and building bonds of kindness, love, and respect.”
Mr Yang urged participants to leverage their language skills to drive action in fields like trade, technology, and education, contributing to a stronger China-Nigeria community.
“We hope more Nigerian and African youth can take the Chinese Bridge as a starting point and go to a broader world stage, building a bridge of understanding with language and a bridge of cooperation with action,” he added.
On his part, Dr. Cui Guangzhen, Director-General of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria (CGCCN), expressed admiration for the students’ remarkable ability to learn Chinese, attributing their success to Nigeria’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity. He urged participants to view the competition as an opportunity to showcase their skills to prospective employers.
“This may not only be a competition but also an interview. After the competition, you may be invited by major Chinese companies to work for them in the future,” he said.
Students from the University of Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, showcased their proficiency in the Chinese language through speeches, cultural performances, and knowledge-based contests.
After an impressive series of performances, Ukachukwu Chizarum Nwanneka from Nnamdi Azikiwe University emerged as the overall winner, receiving a grand prize of N250,000 and the opportunity to represent Nigeria in the next stage of the global contest. Other contestants were also recognised with certificates and consolation prizes.
Chinese Bridge is a contest for foreign students on their mastery of the Chinese language, promoted by the Chinese National Hanban and established as a plan to introduce Chinese to the world. Since it began in 2002, more than 600 contestants from over 147 countries throughout the world have participated in the annually-held Chinese language competitions.
