Chinese Mandarin officially added to Nigerian school curriculum

Nigerian government has formally added the Chinese language, Mandarin as one of the foreign languages to be taught in senior secondary schools across Nigeria, following a recent review of the national curriculum.

This was revealed in Abuja Tuesday by the Secretary of Education for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Danlami Hayyo at the inauguration of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja.

The Chinese Corner is an educational and cultural centre sponsored by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as part of its corporate social responsibility and would be used to promote Chinese culture.

Hayyo who said the collaboration between the FCT Secondary Education and the Chinese Embassy has been in existence for more than a decade today informed the bilateral relations has seen to the establishment of 13 Chinese corners and having the commissioning of the 14th Corner in G.S.S Tudun Wada today.

According to Hayyo, “May I inform you that in the recent review of our Curriculum, the Chinese language has been selected as one of the international languages to offer in Senior Secondary Schools. That is to say that the FCT has been very visionary in introducing the subject in our schools through the Chinese corners early enough.

“Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world and today it has become the language of commerce, education and tourism. Our decisions to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move. Your Friendship has confirmed what the Chinese say as “Hai nei Cun zhiji tianya ruo bi lin” (a bosom friend brings distance lands near).

“I will not like to conclude this speech without acknowledging the generous contribution of the People’s Education Press of China for donating books to our schools last week. We are equally happy to learn that the Press intends to produce Chinese language teaching programs specifically designed For Nigerian classrooms, ahead of the 2026 China- Africa year of People-to-People Exchange and the 55th Anniversary of China – Nigeria diplomatic relations.

“The collaboration between the FCT Secondary Education and the Chinese Embassy has been in existence for more than a decade today. The bilateral relations has seen to the establishment of 13 Chinese corners and having the commissioning of the 14th Corner in G.S.S Tudun Wada today.

“We are highly appreciative that the corners have greatly enhanced education and cultural exchange between Nigeria and China. It has opened a window for better understanding and appreciation of our various cultures and it has also given our students the opportunity to pursue their further education in China. Our staff and teachers too, have benefitted from the collaboration by attending capacity building in China.

“Today we are Proud to say that it is only the FCT that has Chinese corner in her schools in the whole federation. We are not taking that for granted, but we are committed to making the best use of them to promote our people to people exchange for the good of all” he stated.

Relaying the message of Minister of FCT, Nyesom Nwike, Hayyo expressed the sincere gratitude of the FCT Minister, firstly to the Embassy of China in Nigeria, and in particular to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the wonderful Cooperate Social Responsibility of donating a Chinese corner to FCT School.

“We would use it to further promote our almost six decades of unhindered relations. We say a very big thank you. I also wish to thank the ECT-SEB, the Principals, Teachers and Students of all the Chinese Corners for their effort in proving their worth in the Corners. Evidently, one of our students from G.S.S Mpape Chinese Coner Mr. Prosper Dania won the world Fine Arts Competition on Taikonauts and celebrated in September, 2023 in Beijing China.

Also speaking, the Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said the establishment of Chinese Corners stems from China’s recognition of the mutual friendship between the two nations.

“Twelve years ago, out of the cherishment for China-Nigeria friendly relations and the expectation for cultural exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the FCT Secondary Education Board joined hands to establish the Chinese Corner as a unique platform for cultural and educational exchanges,” he said.

Continuing Yang said, “The initiative has grown over the past decade to become “a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures, a bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries, and one of the most popular cultural check-in spots among teachers and students in Abuja”.

Yang assured of Chinese diplomatic missions’ continued support and cooperation in various sectors, particularly culture and education, to further the vision of a shared future between China and Africa.

Today, the inauguration of the Chinese Corner is not an end, but a new starting point for cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria,” he added.

CCECC Director of Corporate Culture Department, Zane Peng said that CCECC will continue to build friendship and promote People-to-People Contact with Nigeria through the China missions in Nigeria.