Nigeria and China are expanding their longstanding diplomatic relations beyond trade and infrastructure, using food, tourism and cultural exchange as new avenues for deepening people-to-people ties between both countries.
The latest push came through the 2026 Nigeria–China Food Festival, held under the theme “Bridging Culture Through Cuisine,” as Nigeria and China commemorated 55 years of formal diplomatic relations.
The festival brought together government officials, diplomats, chefs, hospitality professionals and cultural practitioners, with participants showcasing the culinary traditions of both countries.
Representing the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, said gastronomy could serve both cultural and economic purposes.
“Food does not merely nourish the body. It tells stories, preserves heritage, creates livelihoods, and brings people together,” she said.
The minister noted that Nigeria and China established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, adding that cooperation between the two countries had expanded over the years to include trade, infrastructure, education, technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
She said Nigeria’s tourism and creative industry mapping identified food and beverages as the largest sub-sector of the country’s tourism economy.
This, she said, made gastronomy an important component of Nigeria’s tourism identity and its effort to build a stronger global cultural brand.
According to her, the food festival would provide opportunities for chefs, food entrepreneurs, hospitality businesses and cultural practitioners to exchange expertise, develop partnerships, access new markets and promote Nigerian culture through food.
The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, said food could serve as a bridge for cultural understanding between both countries.
Hongyou said China and Nigeria were ancient civilisations with rich culinary traditions, adding that bringing both cuisines together provided an opportunity for both countries to learn more about each other.
The event featured cultural performances, a photo exhibition on food traditions, a “bush bar” and an area showcasing the culture of grilled skewers.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Aare Abisoye Fagade, said the festival was not just about food but culture, friendship and economic opportunities.
Guests at the festival were treated to 14 Chinese dishes, representing the country’s major culinary regions, alongside Nigerian delicacies from the country’s six geopolitical zones.
