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| Mr Yang Jianxing, Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria (CCCN). |
Culture
By Sarafina Christopher
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2024(NAN) Mr Yang Jianxing, Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria (CCCN) says that culture is the foundation of national development and the driving force of social progress.
Yang said this at the opening of the 12th China-Nigeria Culture Fiesta 2024 Dancing Competition hosted by the center on Thursday in Abuja.
Organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Secondary Education Board (SEB), the fiesta aimed at enhancing people-to-people communication between both countries.
According to him, the event is aimed at promoting cultural exchange between China and Nigeria.
“Culture is the foundation of national development and the driving force of social progress.
“China and Nigeria are cultural giants with a long history.
“This fiesta aims to enable people to understand Chinese culture and its people to promote China-Nigeria friendship.
“Culture plays an important role in the historical process of their national independence and revitalisation,” he said.
Yang added that the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, and the Cultural Centre had been working with FCT SEB to jointly hold the annual China-Nigeria Cultural Fiesta.
Dr Mohammed Ladan, Director/Secretary FCT SEB, expressed his appreciation to the Cultural Counselor and the Chinese Embassy for sponsoring the event annually and providing prizes to the schools.
Ladan, represented by Ms Fatima Babba,
Director, Co-curricular, said that the event had been going on annually for more than a decade.
“The event showcases Nigerian and Chinese arts in the form of dances, thereby, promoting cultural exchange between the duo and the 12 Chinese Corner Students.
“Our collaboration has been of mutual benefit and we look forward to more beneficial cooperation,” she said.
Babba also said SEB would continue to promote Chinese culture in FCT schools and Nigeria as a whole, to improve cultural exchange in Nigeria-China’s 51 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the event was a dancing competition among 12 public secondary schools in Abuja, in two main categories, Chinese dance and Nigerian dance.
NAN reports that generators, refrigerators, rechargeable fans, among others, were given as prizes to the schools that emerged winners in the competition respectively.(NAN)