Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their strategic diplomatic and cultural partnership, as senior government officials and development stakeholders called for deeper collaboration in culture, education, tourism and women’s economic empowerment during the 2026 Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival celebration in Abuja.
The event, held at the China Cultural Centre, brought together representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, members of the diplomatic corps and cultural stakeholders from China. The ceremony also commemorated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries and underscored global efforts to promote people-to-people diplomacy through cultural exchange platforms.
Speaking at the event, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the Lantern Festival as a universal symbol of unity, hope and renewal. He noted that its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list reflects the growing global recognition of Chinese culture.
The ambassador, represented by Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, said cultural diplomacy remains a cornerstone of China–Nigeria relations. Over the past five decades, he said, both nations have expanded cooperation in trade, infrastructure development, education and technology transfer.
He stressed that cultural exchange strengthens mutual understanding beyond formal diplomacy. “Civilizations are enriched by exchange and mutual learning,” he said, pointing to shared values such as respect for family, community cohesion and social harmony.
Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, described the celebration as a symbolic convergence of two historic civilizations and a platform to advance gender-inclusive development.
He said the integration of the Women’s Carnival into the Lantern Festival programme was deliberate, reflecting the central role of women in shaping cultural identity and driving economic growth. According to him, women in both Nigeria and China continue to lead innovation, safeguard cultural heritage and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“As lanterns light up the night sky, our women light the path to social and economic progress,” he said, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to policies that expand opportunities for women in the creative and digital economy.
Muhammad added that Nigeria would intensify efforts to improve women’s visibility in global cultural and economic spaces through enhanced tourism promotion, increased investment in the creative industries and expanded international cultural collaborations.
Also speaking, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga of the UNESCO Office in Nigeria described culture and education as powerful drivers of sustainable development and international cooperation. He observed that the timing of the celebration, coming days before International Women’s Day, reinforced global commitments to gender equality.
He commended progress in women’s empowerment in both countries, highlighting China’s advances in expanding women’s access to higher education, entrepreneurship and technology-driven industries, where women now represent a significant proportion of university enrolment and workforce participation.
In Nigeria, UNESCO acknowledged ongoing national initiatives aimed at promoting women’s empowerment, girls’ education and economic inclusion, stressing that sustained investment in women’s education and skills development remains critical to long-term economic stability and social progress.
Speakers at the event urged both nations to translate cultural goodwill into stronger economic partnerships, particularly in tourism development, creative economy expansion, digital skills training and youth entrepreneurship.
Participants noted that cultural exchange programmes have fostered growing mutual appreciation of music, film, fashion and culinary traditions between the two societies. They also observed that Nigerian and Chinese women are increasingly engaging in cross-border cooperation projects, contributing to business, technology and community development initiatives in both countries.
