The University of Abuja is set to introduce a Confucius Institute, focusing on Chinese language and cultural studies, according to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi.
Prof. Maikudi made this announcement while hosting students from the School of Journalism and Communications at Tsinghua University, China.
Confucius Institutes are global initiatives aimed at promoting the Chinese language, fostering cultural exchanges, and supporting Mandarin teaching in various countries. Highlighting the university’s strong ties with China, Maikudi shared that students at the institution are already taking Mandarin courses.
She expressed optimism about the future collaboration:
“I believe our Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, and the Department of Political Science, will be able to establish stronger academic relationships with Chinese institutions,” she stated.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, who led the delegation, praised the University of Abuja, calling it one of the best institutions in Africa. He emphasized the importance of the collaboration:
“We have had extensive cooperation between universities in Nigeria and China to promote cultural integration. The University of Abuja is one of the best in this continent. Tsinghua University is also one of the best universities in China. So, we look forward to having a productive working relationship with the two,” Dunhai said.
Dr. Sheriff Ibrahim, Head of the Department of Political Science and an expert in China-Africa relations, also expressed excitement about the exchange program, noting that it would deepen cultural understanding between the two nations.
The delegation included the Dean and Deputy Dean of Tsinghua University’s Faculty of Media Communication, along with two faculty members and 17 PhD students. During their visit, they participated in a seminar titled “Mutual Learning between Chinese and Nigerian Civilizations” at the University of Abuja’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
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