- Grace Ike hails cultural exchange as Ignatius Nkwoh emerges men’s singles champion
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has won a gold medal at the 8th Nigeria-China Table Tennis Friendship Tournament 2026, underscoring the role of sports in promoting international friendship and cultural exchange.
The tournament, held on Sunday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, brought together Nigerian and Chinese participants to foster bilateral relations, cultural understanding and people-to-people engagement through sports.
NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, described the competition as an opportunity for journalists to interact beyond newsroom activities while promoting physical fitness, discipline, teamwork and professional solidarity.
Ike commended the China Cultural Centre for sustaining its partnership with the council through eight editions of the tournament, noting that the initiative had strengthened cultural understanding and relations between Nigeria and China.
She said the tournament’s greatest value extended beyond prizes and competition to the friendship, unity and partnerships it continued to build among participants.
The NUJ chairman congratulated the winners and other participants, urging them to uphold mutual respect, compassion and unity alongside the competitive spirit of sports.
Earlier, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Yang Jianxing, described the tournament as an important platform for promoting mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the two countries.
He said exchanges on the table tennis court symbolised mutual respect, teamwork and fair play, adding that sports could transcend language and cultural barriers to build lasting relationships.
Yang commended the NUJ and Nigerian media for their contributions to objective reporting of developments in Nigeria-China relations, particularly in trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology.
He noted that the media played a critical role in strengthening mutual understanding, promoting cultural exchanges and deepening bilateral relations.
The Chinese diplomat also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian-China Chamber of Commerce and Chinese enterprises operating in Nigeria to economic cooperation, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
He said 2026 marked the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.
Yang further highlighted China’s decision to extend zero-tariff treatment, effective May 1, 2026, to imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
He expressed hope that the tournament would strengthen cooperation among the sporting, media and business communities and contribute to closer relations between both countries.
In the men’s singles category, Mr Ignatius Nkwoh of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) emerged champion, clinching the gold medal.
Nkwoh expressed gratitude to God, the NUJ FCT Council leadership and the organisers for providing the opportunity to participate in the competition.
He dedicated his trophy to Ike and members of the council’s executive for their encouragement and commitment to promoting sporting activities among journalists.
Other NUJ FCT Council participants also recorded notable performances, including a bronze medal in the mixed doubles category and a third-place finish in the men’s singles event.
The tournament reaffirmed the importance of sports in promoting diplomacy, cultural understanding and international cooperation while strengthening the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and China.
The NUJ FCT Council thanked sponsors, partners, participants and organisers for the successful eighth edition and expressed optimism about an even more impactful ninth edition in 2027.
