By Ochiaka Ugwu
China and Nigeria have strengthened its blossoming friendship with celebration of Lantern Festival and China-Nigeria Women’s Carnival with the Permanent Secretary of Nigerian Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad describing China friendship with Nigeria as enduring and unbreakable.
Muhammed speaking at the event Tuesday in Abuja hailed the friendship between Nigeria and China, and the central, vital role of women in shaping the destiny of the friendship.
Muhammad said the gathering was not just to mark a date, but to witness the beautiful fusion of two great cultures.
While commending Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cultural Counselor and his team as the architects of a bridge that connects the two nations, he said the Lantern Festival would be used to illuminate two powerful truths: the enduring, unbreakable friendship between Nigeria and China, and the central, vital role of women in shaping the destiny of that friendship.
He further defined the Lantern Festival as a symphony of light, a beautiful blend of history, unity, and hope.
“Tonight, that light has a dual purpose. Just as lanterns chase away the darkness, the China-Nigeria Women’s Carnival is here to spotlight the extraordinary creativity and resilience of our Women” he said.
“Both Nigeria and China are civilizations built on bedrock values: family, community, and deep respect for our elders. Today, we see these values not as museum pieces, but as living, breathing forces, carried forward by our women. They do this through the vibrant strokes of their art, the aromatic stories of their cuisine, the powerful rhythm of their music, and the intimate act of passing on our mother tongues”.
Muhammad, though pledging the Ministry’s deep commitment to elevating China, Nigeria ties said they would implement policies that accelerate their progress in cultural exchanges, that empower their women to lead in the digital economy, and that expand our tourism frontiers.
Also speaking, Head of UNESCO Office Abuja and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga who said it was an honour to be part of the event described the luminous day of the Lunar New Year as celebration of light, reunion and renewed hope.
He said it was more than a festive gathering, but a living testament to the power of culture and education to build bridges between two great nations, Nigeria and China
“As we approach International Women’s Day, our celebration takes on even deeper meaning. We gather not only to honour tradition, but to celebrate the strength, leadership and achievements of Chinese and Nigerian women, and to reaffirm the growing partnership between two nations in advancing women’s development”.
He emphasized that partnership between UNESCO and China in Nigeria holds immense potential saying that China’s experience in expanding access to education, advancing science and technology, and investing in human capital was invaluable.
He however, called for the deepening of friendship through culture, education, innovation and strengthened partnership between UNESCO and China for the benefit of Nigeria.
In his welcome remarks, Cultural Counselor of China Embassy in Nigeria and Director of China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing said that political mutual trust between China and Nigeria has deepened over 55 years of its diplomatic relations with economic and trade cooperation yielding fruitful results.
He said that people-to-people exchanges had become increasingly close with each supporting another in international affairs, making the friendship between China and Nigeria ever stronger.
The event was used as opportunity for the two nations to highlight women’s empowerment and reiterate their total obligation to gender equality, education and people-to-people contacts.
The event brought together officials of Nigerian government from Ministries, members of the diplomatic corps diplomats and international organizations who were all keen and demonstrated their resolve to promote China, Nigeria relations in the new era.
The event featured traditional music presentations of both nations and guests were given Chinese traditional cuisines with many expressing optimism that partnership with China would continue to translate diplomatic goodwill into inclusive growth and shared prosperity for Nigerians and China.
