Nigeria to become global player in Arts, Culture, Tourism by 2030

Nigeria has reaffirmed its ambition to become a global leader in arts, culture, and tourism by the year 2030, aligning this vision with deepening cultural ties with China. The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Mrs. Akudo-Nwosu U.N, said this during the 2025 International Chinese Language Day celebration held at the China Cultural Centre hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, on Friday in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the Minister, the Assistant Director, Ms. Nseno Sunday Emiem emphasized the government’s commitment to cultural diplomacy. She said that Nigeria is actively engaging with China to create exchange programmes that will allow Nigerians to learn Mandarin while also encouraging Chinese citizens to explore Nigerian languages such as Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. She said “Language is more than just a tool for communication – it is the soul of a people, the vessel of their history and the bridge that connects civilizations.
“Under the Honourable Minister’s Destination 2030 agenda, we are committed to revitalizing indigenous languages and enhancing bilateral cooperation with China in areas such as language education, film, music, and literature.”
In his welcome address, Liu Zhanping, Deputy Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, highlighted the global relevance of Chinese. He said “International Chinese Language Day is a global celebration aimed at promoting the Chinese language and cultural exchange. Each Chinese character resembles a unique painting, its strokes tracing the historical legacy and spiritual essence of Chinese civilization over millennia. Chinese is not merely a tool for communication but a bridge connecting cultures and hearts,” he added, noting the growing interest in the language among Nigerians.”
Also delivering a goodwill message, Director of Education Support Services, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Larai Nana Ahmed, acknowledged Chinese as one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 1.39 billion native speakers. She emphasized the Nigerian government’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding through language education. She said, “It is not gainsaying to say that proficiency in the Chinese language is opening doors to new economic opportunities, particularly in trade and investment. The Bilateral Educational Agreement between the governments of Nigeria and China has exposed several Nigerian scholars to the study of the Chinese language.” Ahmed further announced that the Ministry of Education plans to introduce Chinese language programmes in selected Nigerian schools and universities and to collaborate with Chinese institutions in training local teachers in Mandarin instruction.