By our Correspondent
China and Nigeria have called for the deepening of relations through people-to-people engagement, cultural diplomacy, and culinary exchange.
The call was made by Zhou Hongyou, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria-China Food Festival, organised to showcase the culinary and cultural heritage of both countries.
The envoy noted that the event was more than a celebration of food, emphasizing that it provided an opportunity for Nigerians and the Chinese to understand each other’s cultures through cuisine.
“This is not just a feast for our taste buds; it is also a conversation and a meeting of our cultures,” he said.
He stated that food provides an important window into the geography, culture, and lifestyles of a people, adding that China’s diverse regions have developed distinct culinary traditions based on their climate, local produce, and ways of life.
“Food is truly a great window to understand China’s geography, culture, and its people.” he said.
According to him, the festival showcased 14 dishes representing China’s different regions, alongside 12 Nigerian dishes representing the country’s six geopolitical zones, allowing attendees to experience the taste of each region.
He stressed that the festival was significant to both countries as they marked the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in February this year. He further maintained that the relationship between the two countries continues to expand beyond traditional diplomatic engagement, adding that both countries continue to deepen cooperation in education, culture, arts, sports, and youth affairs.
The envoy reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with Nigeria to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Global Civilisation Initiative.
In her keynote address, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa-Musawa, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, said, “Food is a powerful tool for preserving heritage, creating livelihoods, and bringing people together.”
She noted that in the 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries’ relationship has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing trade, infrastructure, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The minister stressed that Nigerian music, food, and literature are attracting audiences in China, while Chinese language, food, martial arts, and other cultural expressions are receiving growing attention in Nigeria.
Musawa further emphasized that the food festival provides platforms for chefs, restaurant operators, hospitality enterprises, and cultural practitioners to exchange knowledge, access new markets, and promote cultural heritage in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Aare Abisoye Fagade, said the festival demonstrated the potential of food to promote tourism, create jobs, and generate economic opportunities.
He said Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage, including jollof rice, pounded yam, indigenous soups, spices, grains, and seafood, could serve as the foundation for a globally recognised food-tourism industry if properly packaged, promoted, and commercialized while preserving its authenticity.
He urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to package, standardize, promote, and commercialize their cuisine to gain global recognition in the food and tourism industry. (GSF)