Nigeria has officially added the Chinese language, Mandarin, to the senior secondary school curriculum in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marking a new phase in cultural and educational exchange between the country and China.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Secretary of Education for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Danlami Hayyo, during the inauguration of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja. The Chinese Corner is an educational and cultural centre sponsored by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“May I inform you that in the recent review of our curriculum, the Chinese language has been selected as one of the international languages to offer in senior secondary schools. That is to say that the FCT has been very visionary in introducing the subject in our schools through the Chinese Corners early enough,” Hayyo announced.
He explained that Mandarin is now widely recognized as the “language of commerce, education, and tourism,” adding: “Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world, and today it has become the language of commerce, education, and tourism. Our decision to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move.”
Hayyo noted that the new Chinese Corner is the 14th in the FCT, underscoring the steady expansion of such centres in secondary schools across the territory.
“The bilateral relations have led to the establishment of 13 Chinese Corners, and the commissioning of the 14th Corner at GSS Tudun Wada today. These centres have greatly enhanced education and cultural exchange between Nigeria and China. It has opened a window for better understanding and appreciation of our various cultures and given our students the opportunity to pursue further education in China,” he said.
According to Hayyo, the initiative has also benefited teachers and staff in the FCT through capacity-building programmes in China. “Today we are proud to say that it is only the FCT that has Chinese Corners in its schools in the whole federation,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, Hayyo thanked the Chinese government and embassy for their continued investment in cultural and educational cooperation. He closed with a Chinese proverb: “Hai nei cun zhiji, tianya ruo bi lin,” meaning, “A bosom friend brings distant lands near.”
In his remarks, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, recalled the origins of the Chinese Corner initiative.
“Twelve years ago, out of the cherishment for China-Nigeria friendly relations and the expectation for cultural exchanges between the two countries, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the FCT Secondary Education Board joined hands to establish the Chinese Corner as a unique platform for cultural and educational exchanges,” he said.
He described the centres as “a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures, a bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries, and one of the most popular cultural check-in spots among teachers and students in Abuja.”
Yang reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education and cultural development, stressing: “Today, the inauguration of the Chinese Corner is not an end, but a new starting point for cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria.”
Also speaking, Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr. Muhammed Ladan, said the initiative reflects the deepening ties between both nations.
“The Chinese Corners aim not just to foster people-to-people exchanges, but also to provide resources for learning Mandarin and opportunities for scholarships in China. It is also a means of strengthening diplomatic relations through artistic collaboration,” he stated.
Ladan traced the establishment of Chinese Corners back to 2013 with the first at GSS Garki, followed by others, including one at GSS Wuse Zone 3 in 2024. He revealed that two more centres are already in the pipeline, supported by Chinese companies in Nigeria.
The inclusion of Mandarin in the national curriculum follows the Federal Government’s recent comprehensive review of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. In a circular dated September 8, 2025, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council confirmed that the revised curriculum would take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session. Alongside Mandarin, French and Arabic were also listed as optional international languages.
Just last week, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria donated 15 sets of Mandarin teaching materials and cultural books to support the rollout of Chinese language education in Nigerian schools.
