An official of the Nigerian government has explained why the country is officially incorporating Mandarin Chinese into its senior secondary school curriculum.
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The development comes as part of a curriculum review completed by the Federal Government, with implementation set to begin in the 2025/2026 academic session. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council confirmed the changes in a circular dated September 8, 2025.
The Federal Capital Territory has emerged as a pioneer in Chinese language education, with the Secretary of Education for the FCT, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, announcing Tuesday, September 16, 2025, that the territory has been “very visionary” in introducing the subject through Chinese Corners established in local schools.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja, Hayyo pointed out the practical importance of the decision.
“Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world, and today it has become the language of commerce, education, and tourism,” he stated. “Our decision to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move.”
The newly inaugurated Chinese Corner represents the latest addition to a growing network of educational and cultural centres sponsored by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
According to Hayyo, the FCT now boasts 14 Chinese Corners across various secondary schools, making it the only territory in Nigeria’s federation with such comprehensive Chinese language facilities.
“These centres have greatly enhanced education and cultural exchange between Nigeria and China,” Hayyo noted. “It has opened a window for better understanding and appreciation of our various cultures and given our students the opportunity to pursue further education in China.”
Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, traced the initiative’s origins to 12 years ago when Chinese diplomatic missions partnered with the FCT Secondary Education Board to establish the first Chinese Corner.
“Out of the cherishment for China-Nigeria friendly relations and the expectation for cultural exchanges between the two countries,” Yang explained, the programme has evolved into “a bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries.”
The Chinese diplomat stated that the inauguration represents “not an end, but a new starting point for cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria.”
Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr. Muhammed Ladan, revealed that the first Chinese Corner was established in 2013 at Government Secondary School Garki, with centres subsequently added at other locations, including GSS Wuse Zone 3 in 2024.
Two additional centres are currently in development, supported by prominent Chinese companies operating in Nigeria, Ladan disclosed.
The programme extends beyond language instruction to include scholarship opportunities in China and resources for cultural exchange, strengthening diplomatic relations through educational collaboration.
The inclusion of Mandarin follows the Federal Government’s completion of a comprehensive revision of the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Curriculum. Under the new framework, international languages including French, Arabic, and now Chinese are listed as optional subjects for senior secondary students.
To support the rollout, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria last week donated 15 sets of Chinese language teaching materials and cultural books to Nigerian secondary schools.
Teachers and educational staff in the FCT have also benefited from capacity-building programmes conducted in China, further strengthening the implementation framework.
The curriculum change is a recognition of China’s growing global influence and the practical value of Mandarin proficiency in international commerce and diplomacy.
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