By Mercy Aikoye
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria are set to host the 7th Nigeria-China Friendship Table Tennis Tournament on November 15, 2025. This announcement was made during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, and her executive members to the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The NUJ FCT delegation was warmly received by Mr. Yang Jianxing, Director of the Centre and Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, along with other senior staff. Comrade Ike expressed her gratitude for the longstanding partnership between the NUJ FCT and the China Cultural Centre, emphasizing the importance of further cultural exchange.
According to Comrade Ike, the partnership has been fruitful, with numerous cultural exchange programs, training opportunities, and the annual table tennis tournament. She highlighted the China Cultural Centre’s participation in other NUJ FCT events, such as football tournaments, and expressed hope that this active partnership would continue.
Comrade Ike formally invited Mr. Yang and his team to the upcoming NUJ FCT Press Week, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on July 22, 2025. She stated, “We’d be honoured to have you there as one of our key partners.” She also appealed for more opportunities for cultural exchanges between the China Cultural Centre and the NUJ FCT.
Mr. Yang welcomed the NUJ FCT delegation and thanked them for the visit. He provided an overview of the China Cultural Centre, established in 2013, which includes facilities such as a multipurpose hall, library, and Mandarin language classes. The Centre hosts various China-Nigeria cultural events annually, including the Spring Festival and China Tea Day.
The China-Nigeria Cultural Festival is also upcoming, scheduled to be held in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. Mr. Yang mentioned that the Centre would feature performances later in the year, showcasing Chinese traditional music, dance, Kung Fu, and magic shows.
Regarding the table tennis tournament, Mr. Yang confirmed that it would proceed as planned in November and expressed hope for strong NUJ FCT participation and support. In response to the request for training opportunities in China, Mr. Yang assured the NUJ FCT that efforts would be made to secure spots for their members.
Mr. Yang emphasized the strong and mutually beneficial ties between Nigeria and China, describing the two nations as “brothers and family.” He appreciated the role of the media in promoting understanding between the two cultures, stating, “Through your work, people in China learn more about Nigeria, and vice versa.”
