Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) in Nigeria will now offer Chinese language (Mandarin) following the Federal Government’s recent curriculum review.
The Education Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Danlami Hayyo, disclosed this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja.
The project was sponsored by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Hayyo noted that the FCT had been ahead of the curve by introducing Mandarin through Chinese Corners long before the new national review.
He said: “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 decision to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move.”
With the new facility, the number of Chinese Corners in Abuja schools has risen to 14, strengthening cultural and academic exchanges.
Hayyo added: “The bilateral relations have led to the establishment of 13 Chinese Corners and the inauguration of the 14th Corner in G.S.S. Tudun Wada today. 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. Today, we are proud to say that it is only the FCT that has Chinese Corners in its schools in the whole federation.”
Speaking on behalf of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the Education Secretary expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government and Embassy: “Your friendship has confirmed what the Chinese say as ‘Hai nei Cun zhiji tianya ruo bi lin’ (a bosom friend brings distant lands near).”
Also speaking, the Chinese Counselor in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, traced the origins of the initiative.
He recalled: “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 of Nigeria joined hands to establish the ‘Chinese Corner’ as a unique platform for cultural and educational exchanges. Over the past more than 10 years, this seemingly simple platform has long 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.”
For students, Yang explained, the centres offer more than just language classes: “For students, the ‘Chinese Corner’ is not only an immersive classroom for learning Chinese and experiencing Chinese culture, but also a window to observe the world. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. The Chinese diplomatic missions in Nigeria will also continue to support China-Nigeria cooperation in various fields, such as culture and education, and continuously promote the building of a closer China-Africa and China-Nigeria community with a shared future. Today, the inauguration of the ‘Chinese Corner’ is not an end, but a new starting point for cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria.”
