Nigerians warm up to watch more Chinese movies

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigerians are gearing up to watching more Chinese movies following a comprehensive, constructive strategic cooperation agreement between the China Movie Channel (CMC) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), aimed at boosting film co-productions, content exchange, professional training, technology transfer, and broader collaboration across China, Nigeria creative sectors.

The agreement signed on Friday in Abuja at the event of China–Nigeria Film and Literature Symposium was witnessed by senior Nigerian government officials, Chinese diplomats and visiting officials with the focus of promoting cultural exchanges and friendship between the China and Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yu Dunhai who said the agreement will create an important platform for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, assured that China will continue working with African countries, including Nigeria, to build a community with a shared future for mankind, enrich the diversity of world civilisations through openness and inclusiveness, promote mutual understanding through exchanges among civilisations, and consolidate public support for China–Africa’s joint pursuit of modernisation.

He said the event was an important step in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative and advancing the vision of a community with a shared future between China and Nigeria.

Yu noted that literature and film were among the finest achievements of human civilization, saying that through their unique narrative and audiovisual languages, they vividly record the course of history, social transformation, human emotions and philosophical reflections on the future.

He stated that China and Nigeria were both countries with rich civilisational heritage.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of Nigerian Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim said the ceremony was a testament to the enduring friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between Nigeria and China that reflects their shared commitments to strengthening cultural diplomacy, promoting creative industry collaboration, and fostering greater people-to-people understanding through the arts, films, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

While congratulating the Communist Party of China (CPC) on its 105th anniversary, Ibrahim stated that China has achieved extraordinary progress in education, socio-economic transformation, scientific and technological innovation, poverty reduction, and world-class infrastructure development which has not only transformed China but made significant contributions to global development and international cooperation.

He noted that Nigeria has remained a valued partner and major beneficiary of China’s educational, cultural, and capacity-building initiatives through scholarships, professional training programmes, cultural exchanges, tourism cooperation, and technical partnerships which have made many Nigerians acquire valuable knowledge, skills, and international exposure that continue to contribute to national development.

Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos expressed hope that CMC–NTA Cooperation Agreement will provide a strong platform for content co-production, programme exchange, professional training, technology transfer and the wider distribution of Nigerian and Chinese creative works.

Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, Arc. Chukwudi Eze said that Nigeria and China were nations blessed with rich literary traditions, vibrant artistic expressions, and profound cultural heritage.

However, the event also saw writers, filmmakers and cultural professionals from both countries discuss the role literature and film should play in serving national development and telling the stories of two nations and their peoples.

At the film screening session which featured “Blades of the Guardians” audience were excited as it offered them the ample opportunity of experiencing the great charm of China Wushu cinematic experience with most people asking for more.