By Derrick Bangura

The Chinese government has advised Nigeria to jealously guard her culture, insisting it is the foundation of
national development and the driving force of social progress.

Speaking in Abuja at the celebration of the World Culture Day organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Li Xuda said China is ever ready to support Nigerian government in celebration of the nation’s culture.
Xuda who recalled the celebration of the 2022 World Culture Day in Nigeria with activities that include African drum, Nigerian traditional dance, wrestling, Chinese Martial arts, lion dance performed during the Road Walk for Cultural Demonstration, said China firmly supported the Nigerian government to ensure the success of the activities.

He said: “As to the importance of culture, I’d like to say that culture is the foundation of national development and the driving force of social progress. Both China and Nigeria are cultural giants with a long history.

Culture plays an important role in the historical process of their national independence and revitalization.”

He added that: “The concept of harmony is most emphasized by Chinese in its culture. At the level of man and nature, we advocate harmony in coexistence; at the level of family and society, we advocate harmony in integration; at the level of nation and civilization, we
advocate harmony in diversity; at the level of state and governance, we advocate
harmony development. In short, our ultimate goal is to create a harmonious world with peaceful development of mankind.

Xuda said: “Nowadays we always say “The relationship between two countries is based on the affection between two countries’ civilians”, cultural exchanges really can make it possible! I think the essence of cultural exchange is people to people exchange, which serves as a bridge, promotes the mutual understanding and mutual learning between countries. Here I do hope the cultural exchanges between us will further wonderful cultural events like today’s co-organizing strengthened through celebration.”

In her opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said the Nigerian culture has continued to inspire various artistic expressions from music, film, cinematography, fashion, photography, arts and craft, etc, providing the leverage for indigenous artists to tap into the vast resources of our unique culture in creating various forms of art that have continued to blaze the trail globally.

She added that: “These various artistic strides have translated into enormous economic gains for our country in
revenue generation and job creation for our teeming youth and women.”

She noted that the World Day for Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development has continued to provide a springboard for showcasing and promoting our culture as well as creating a veritable platform for dialogue and national development.

Anyanwutaku, who was represented by one of the directors in the ministry, said: “As patriotic Nigerians, the security of our country is our collective responsibility. While the Federal Government continues to channel resources towards ridding our nation of the multifaceted challenges faced by the security infrastructure of the nation, we must complement efforts of government in addressing the increasing security issues created by enemies of nationhood by deploying cultural elements in fighting this menace.

“Our diversity is our strength, and Nigerians are free to live in any part of the country other than their ancestral home,” she insisted.

She noted that: “Our unique and diverse cultural neritage is a unifier and irrespective of differences in expression, we share commonality aspects of our way of life. This is why we must continue to place more emphasis on the things that binds us a people.”