By Mercy Peter
Nigeria and China have renewed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in culture, education, tourism and women’s economic empowerment as both countries marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The pledge was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2026 Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival celebration, an event that also highlighted ongoing global efforts to promote people-to-people diplomacy through cultural exchange platforms between the two nations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the Lantern Festival as a universal symbol of unity, hope and renewal. He noted that the festival’s growing international recognition, especially following its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, underscores the global relevance and enduring appeal of Chinese culture.
Represented by the Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy and Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, the ambassador emphasized that cultural diplomacy remains a strong pillar of bilateral relations. He observed that over the past five decades, Nigeria and China have expanded cooperation across trade, infrastructure development, education and technology transfer.
“Civilizations are enriched by exchange and mutual learning,” he said, adding that both societies share core values such as respect for family, community cohesion and social harmony.
On his part, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, described the celebration as a symbolic fusion of two great civilizations and a strategic platform for advancing gender-inclusive development.
He explained that the integration of the Women’s Carnival with the Lantern Festival was deliberate, reflecting the vital role women play in shaping cultural identity and driving economic progress in both countries.
“As lanterns light up the night sky, our women light the path to social and economic progress,” Muhammad stated, pledging that the Federal Government would continue to implement policies aimed at expanding opportunities for women in the creative and digital economy.
He further assured that Nigeria would intensify efforts to promote women’s visibility in global cultural and economic spaces through enhanced tourism promotion, sustained investment in the creative industry and strengthened international cultural collaborations.
The envoy also stressed the need to translate cultural goodwill into concrete economic outcomes, identifying opportunities in tourism development, creative economy expansion, digital skills training and youth entrepreneurship. He noted that cultural exchange programmes have already fostered greater mutual appreciation of music, film, fashion and culinary traditions in both societies.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga of the UNESCO Office in Nigeria described culture and education as powerful instruments for sustainable development and international cooperation.
He observed that the celebration, coming just days before International Women’s Day, reinforced global commitments to gender equality. He commended both countries for progress made in advancing women’s empowerment, highlighting China’s strides in expanding women’s access to higher education, entrepreneurship and technology-driven industries. According to him, women now constitute a significant proportion of university enrolment and workforce participation in China.
