Students in Nigerian senior secondary schools will now have the chance to learn Mandarin, following its official inclusion in the national curriculum.

The announcement came on Tuesday from Dr. Danlami Hayyo, Secretary of Education for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), during the inauguration of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja.

The Chinese Corner initiative, sponsored by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation as part of its corporate social responsibility, offers students educational and cultural resources to learn Mandarin and gain insight into Chinese culture.

Hayyo described the move as visionary, noting the global significance of Mandarin in commerce, education, and tourism.

“The FCT has been very forward-thinking in introducing Chinese education early through these Corners,” Hayyo said. “Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world. Our decision to delve into Chinese language and culture is a wise move.”

The newly inaugurated Corner is the 14th in the FCT, joining a network of centres across the territory aimed at promoting cultural exchange between Nigeria and China. Students and teachers benefit from learning materials, resources, capacity-building programmes, and scholarship opportunities in China.

Yang Jianxing, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, said the initiative reinforces the friendship between the two nations. “The Chinese Corners serve as a link connecting Chinese and Nigerian cultures, a bridge bringing young people closer together,” he said.