The opening ceremony of the 2025 China Women’s Film Festival was held on Friday at the China Cultural Centre, Abuja, celebrating women’s creativity, leadership, and resilience and the power of film to inspire social change.
Organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, the event was attended by diplomats, government officials, lawmakers, film lovers, students and gender advocates from both Nigeria and China.
In his remarks, Minister Zhou Hongyou of the Chinese Embassy described women as “an indispensable force driving social development and progress.” He emphasized China’s enduring commitment to gender equality, citing the nation’s progress in ensuring women’s access to education, employment, and leadership opportunities.
“The Chinese government has always attached great importance to improving women’s social status and creating equal opportunities for them in education and employment. Chinese women have played an irreplaceable role in our nation’s transformation from poverty to prosperity in just over 40 years,” he said.
Zhou cited remarkable progress in China’s women’s development, noting that over 690 million women have achieved moderate prosperity, while women now make up 43 per cent of the total employed population. He stated that female students constitute more than half of China’s undergraduate and junior college enrollments.
He pledged the willingness of China to work with Nigeria and other countries around the world to accelerate the comprehensive development of women and open a new chapter in the advancement of women’s causes globally.
Also speaking, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, praised the festival’s role in strengthening the deep-rooted friendship between Nigeria and China.
“The China Women’s Film Festival is a distinguished platform that celebrates creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling to connect nations and inspire change,” she said.
The minister noted that Nigeria and China share common goals in promoting women-led innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in the creative industries.
“Our partnership can continue to foster capacity building, creative industry exchange, and women-led entrepreneurship, especially in areas such as digital storytelling, film, and cultural diplomacy. Together, we can amplify women’s voices and strengthen bilateral cooperation in ways that directly touch lives and communities,” she added.
Earlier in his remarks, Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock, Chairman, House Committee on Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to empowering women and youth in the creative industry, and to building stronger partnerships through cultural diplomacy. He also pledged the readiness of the lawmakers to advance legislation that promotes gender inclusion, protects intellectual property, and enhances creative financing.
“We believe that when women tell their stories, societies evolve; when nations exchange their art, peace and prosperity follow,” he said.
The four-day festival, which ends on October 13, is expected to showcase women’s stories of resilience, family, and ambition through movies such as Dumpling Queen, Her Story, Song of Spring, and The Beautiful Life, highlighting the shared humanity that unites both nations.
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