On Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria awarded scholarships to 52 primary school teachers and pupils of the China-Assisted Model Primary School, Nyanya, Abuja, to promote and enhance education in Nigeria.
The event commemorated the “October 1st Award of China-Nigeria Friendship,” marking the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In her address at the ceremony, Liang Huili, wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, said the scholarships were awarded to 32 pupils and 20 teachers to recognise outstanding qualities and highlight the strategic role of education in fostering friendship and cooperation.
She also emphasised the significance of education as the foundation for progress and prosperity.
“Education is the hope for the development of a country; when the youth are educated, then the country will be proud of them in the years to come.
“I sincerely wish Nigeria would make great progress with rapid development in its education sector,” she said.
Liang also commended the scholarship recipients and urged them to continue pursuing their academic dreams.
In her remarks, Jummai Haruna, head teacher of the school, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its sustained efforts to promote education in Nigeria.
Haruna observed that the scholarship did not only serve as a recognition of the academic excellence of the recipients but also as a testament to the hard work, resilience, and determination that each recipient has demonstrated on their academic journey.
“Today, our school is the only beneficiary of the 2023 Chinese Ambassador Scholarship Award as a result of the wisdom and decision of the embassy and the FCT-Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB),” she said.
The head teacher urged the Chinese mission to sustain its efforts at promoting cultural and educational exchange between the two countries.
In his address, the executive chairman of FCT UBEB, Alhassan Sule, applauded the Chinese Embassy for its commitment to strengthening the partnership between China and Nigeria.
(NAN)
