A grand 2025 New Year’s gala celebrating China-Nigeria friendship was held on Saturday, December 21, at the China Cultural Center in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Co-hosted by the China Cultural Center and Drum Majors for Peace, the event brought together distinguished personalities including Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy; Jaafaru Yakubu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor and Director of China Cultural Centre; Cui Guangzhen, Director-General of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria; Chief Executives of Chinese Enterprises in Nigeria, government officials and members of the diplomatic community.
In his welcome remarks, Counsellor Yang Jianxing emphasized the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges in strengthening the friendship between China and Nigeria. He expressed hope that the China Cultural Centre would become a symbol of China-Nigeria friendship and a hub for cultural exchange activities.
Yang also noted that in 2025, the centre will host a series of colourful exchange activities focusing on culture, tourism, education, and other fields.
“These initiatives aim to enhance the friendship between the people of China and Nigeria, as outlined in the “Beijing Action Plan” proposed by the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC),” he said.
Also speaking, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy said the federal government of Nigeria will explore opportunities for co-production agreements and training capacity building with China especially in arts, culture and the creative industry.
“Nigeria is seeking to learn from China’s experience in tourism, aiming to promote its own cultural attractions and bring wealth into the tourism industry,” she noted.
Earlier in his remarks, Nsikan Paul, Executive Director of Drum Majors for Peace said the gala was organized to celebrate the unity, harmony, and unwavering partnership between China and Africa, particularly Nigeria.
“This event is a testament to what we can achieve when hearts are open, and hands are joined across borders to build a world rooted in peace, tolerance, and inclusivity,” he said.
He noted that his organization is dedicated to promoting peace, encouraging inclusivity, and empowering the youth through creative and impactful mediums like entertainment, cultural exchange, and education.
The event featured musical performances and the presentation of awards to deserving individuals and corporate bodies for their contributions to promoting China-Nigeria friendship.
