“Ni Hao! China” Hits 456 Days, Brings Nigeria And China Closer

Nigeria and China are using radio broadcasting to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen people-to-people relations, as the Ni Hao! China Chinese-language programme marked 456 days on air. The Chinese Embassy’s Cultural Counsellor and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, and the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Mohammed Bulama, stated this at a ceremony marking the milestone at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja on Thursday. Yang said the programme, launched in July 2025 through a partnership between the Chinese Embassy and FRCN, with support from the China Cultural Centre, had become a platform for promoting friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries. He said it had introduced Nigerian listeners to Chinese language lessons, history, food, traditions and everyday life, while creating opportunities for cultural exchange. Yang noted that the programme was accessible through FRCN’s FM stations, website, YouTube and other digital platforms, adding that it could expand its impact through short videos, social media and in-person cultural activities. He called for more content on Chinese culture, tourism and education, as well as lessons to help listeners present Nigerian traditions and culture in Chinese. He said greater participation by young Nigerians in language learning and cultural exchange would help nurture a new generation of advocates for Nigeria-China relations. The cultural counsellor said the milestone was significant as both countries marked 55 years of diplomatic relations and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. In his remarks, Bulama said the programme had grown from an initial broadcasting experiment into a platform for cultural education and international cooperation. He said the initiative had broadened engagement between Nigeria and China beyond traditional areas such as trade, infrastructure and diplomacy by helping audiences learn about each other’s history, culture and innovations. “ The FRCN, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy, has moved beyond ‘Business to Business’ to ‘Heart to Heart’,” Bulama said. He added that FRCN would continue to develop content combining Mandarin lessons with stories on culture, innovation, education, tourism, business and everyday life. Bulama also disclosed that the corporation was incorporating podcasts, social media clips, audience quizzes and other digital resources to help listeners practise and revisit lessons at their convenience. In her goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, said the programme demonstrated how broadcasting could promote cultural understanding and strengthen relationships between nations. Ike described the milestone as 456 days of communication, cultural exchange and mutual learning, noting that such initiatives could help correct misconceptions and encourage mutual respect. She urged the organisers to expand the programme’s reach, particularly among young Nigerians, through radio and digital platforms. The NUJ chairperson reaffirmed the union’s support for media initiatives that promote cultural diplomacy, language learning and responsible public communication, while congratulating the organisers and listeners on the milestone.