Buhari and Xi Jinping
By Lizzy Okoji
The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China has pledged to promote education exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria, saying that this has always been its top priority.
Mr Zhao Yong, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, made this known on Monday during the presentation ceremony of the China-Nigeria friendship award ceremony on Oct. 1 to outstanding secondary school students and teachers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award to the teachers and students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the third in the series.
A total of six million naira was expended on the project, with each school benefitting 500,000, from which the award of N10,000 in cash went to each of the 120 students across 10 schools in the FCT and N20,000 to each of 24 teachers from the same schools.
The award which was earlier presented to employees of indigenous Chinese Companies in Nigeria and some students of the University of Abuja is in commemoration of Chinas National Day and Nigerias Independence.
Saying that education is top priority of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhao said education remains the cornerstone of a nations development.
Zhao said I hope all the beneficiaries will keep up the constant efforts and excel in your teaching or learning. I sincerely wish you all success in the future.
Speaking to NAN on the sidelines of the event, Mr Li Xuda, Director of the China Cultural Center in Abuja, said the future of a country is totally dependent on education, adding that there is the need to pay more attention to the education sector.
Also speaking, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, Chairman, FCT Secondary Education Board, appreciated the Chinese government for its unrelenting support to schools in the FCT and across the country.
Muhammad said the FCT Secondary School Education Board is happy celebrating 15 years of cooperation with the Chinese Embassy which has been of mutual benefit to the two parties.
He said that the partnership has further promoted cultural and educational exchanges between Nigeria and China, and has strengthened bilateral relations.
Mrs Fatima Baba. Director, Co-Curricular of the Board, said the Chinese Embassy has been of immense support to the growing educational sector in Nigeria and urged other Embassies to show their support.
One of the beneficiaries of the award, Ms Esther Okoye of the Government Secondary School, Asokoro, appreciated the Embassy for recognizing their efforts.
Okoye said the award will spur her to work harder and strive for more academic excellence. (NAN)
Source: NAN News