Chinese Language Learning Booms In Nigeria As Students See It As Ticket To Success

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Chinese language is experiencing a surge in popularity in Nigeria, with many young people embracing it as a path to economic prosperity.

This trend was evident at the recent Chinese Language Contest hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria (CCCN), where 40 contestants competed for the grand prize of N250,000.

The contestants, primarily students from Chinese schools across the country, showcased their skills in the rapidly growing language.

Winner, Chinecherem Ugwuanyi, a student at the Confucius Institute in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nsukka, revealed her motivation for learning Chinese: “My first motivation is my family. I wanted to work in a company as a translator to give my family a better life.”

Ugwuanyi emphasised the potential for financial reward in the field, believing a translation job could offer a brighter future.

Despite acknowledging the language’s difficulty, Ugwuanyi stressed that dedication is key to mastering Chinese: “The beginning is always difficult, but as long as you persist to the end, you will succeed.”

Her message resonated with other aspiring learners, encouraging them to persevere in their pursuit of fluency.

The Director of the CCCN, Mr. Yang Jianxing, highlighted the increasing availability of resources for learning Chinese in Nigeria.

He explained that numerous centres have been established nationwide to facilitate language acquisition.

The competition, he said, serves to further inspire individuals to embrace the language.

With Chinese being one of the world’s most spoken languages, Mr. Jianxing urged Nigerians to consider learning it.

He emphasized the immense opportunities that fluency in Chinese could unlock for individuals and the nation as a whole.