The Consul-General of China in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, has called for the expansion of Mandarin language teaching across Nigerian schools, describing it as a strategic tool for cultural exchange and economic opportunity between both countries.

She made the call during a visit to Grace Schools in Lagos, where she interacted with pupils learning Mandarin as part of the institution’s foreign language programme. Grace Schools introduced Mandarin as a subject sixteen years ago and currently teaches it from Nursery Two through Senior Secondary School II.

According to the envoy, China already supports Mandarin education in Nigeria through the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos as well as Chinese language classrooms established in various primary and secondary schools. She expressed delight at the enthusiasm shown by Nigerian students for the Chinese language, culture and history, noting that many of them had expressed a desire to visit China someday. She described children as the hope of every nation and said she was encouraged by the dreams and aspirations of the pupils she interacted with during the visit.

Yuqing further disclosed that Lagos maintains sister-city partnerships with several Chinese provinces, adding that educational collaboration between both countries had continued to expand through exchange programmes and the work of the Confucius Institute. She reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting broader development initiatives in Nigeria, including food assistance for low-income families, healthcare interventions such as cataract treatment, and various infrastructure projects.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, the Chief Executive Officer of Grace Schools, Mrs Olatokunbo Edun, said the institution introduced Mandarin into its curriculum in 2010 after recognising China’s growing economic influence and the opportunities the language could open up for young Nigerians.

She noted that many pupils at the school are now able to read, write and converse fluently in Mandarin as a result of the programme, which has benefited from significant investment in teacher training and a partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos.

The advocacy for wider Mandarin adoption comes as the envoy has, on previous occasions, expressed optimism that the language could eventually become one of the most practical and widely spoken foreign languages among Nigerian youths as ties between both countries continue to deepen.

Photo Credit: Punch Newspaper