From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Chinese Government, has expressed its readiness to actively support the dreams of African youths in exploring the vast universe.
The Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr Li Xuda, disclosed the readiness of the Chinese Government at an event tagged ‘My Dream’ Painting Competition Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
Li noted that over the years, African youth have expressed strong interest in the outer space and their desire to fly to space some day in the future.
According to Li, “Chinese government is ready to actively support these ‘African Dreams’ of exploring the vast universe.”
Li also said in the current year, the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China Manned Space Engineering Office are co-hosting a painting competition on the theme of ‘My Dream,’ starting from March 1, 2023.
“In Nigeria, over 10 ‘China Corner’ schools participated in the competition, about 100 pieces of painting were collected, and the Top five excellent paintings were sent by the Chinese Embassy to China for the final selection.
“Here I want to share a great news with you: Nigerian teenager Prosper
has won the 1st Prize of Painting Competition among over 2000 works from African Youth with his painting ‘Shared Aspiration,’ which was sent to China Space Station yesterday! He will be invited to visit China in September and all the related costs including international air tickets will be covered by Chinese government.
“Encouraged by his success, I believe Nigerian students will grow up as new builders of China-Nigeria good relationship, and make our cultural exchange more fruitful as well as our tomorrow more beautiful!” Li also said.
Earlier, Li said culture was the soul of a nation, adding that cultural exchange and cooperation definitely played an important role between countries.
“In recent years, the cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria has been further strengthened and the fruitful results really benefit the people of our two countries. Since the young generation are the future of a country, here I would like to talk about the benefits that young people have gained from cultural exchange between our two countries.
“As you know, a long and good relationship has already been built among the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, the China Cultural Center in Nigeria and FCT Secondary Education Board through jointly organizing the yearly “China-Nigeria Painting Competition” for many years. Today “China-Nigeria Painting Competition” has already developed into a well-known cultural brand in FCT, especially our students from “China Corners” schools eagerly look forward to its opening every year so that they can fully display their talents and demonstrate the best of themselves,” Li added.
In his remarks, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, said one of the greatest thing that one can do to any nation is to develop the youths because the youths are the leaders of tomorrow.
“And in most cases, there is this division which I think we need to start to break as soon as possible,” Runsewe said.
Runsewe further said with the cooperation between both countries, he could see a new Nigeria being born.
“It has now become a thing of by force. You must change the narrative and the story of this country,” Runsewe charged the youths.