Michael Uchechi Justina of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University scored 95.2 points to win the 19th Nigeria Regional Final of ”Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, held Friday, June 5, at the China Cultural Centre, Abuja.

The contest, themed “Chasing Dreams in Chinese, Making Every Moment Count,” was hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria and the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation. It was organised by the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos, with co-organisation by the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, said the Cultural Centre will continue to support and encourage Confucius Institutes to create platforms and frameworks for youth exchanges between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria.

”Today is a momentous occasion in the field of language and cultural exchange between China and Nigeria, and I am truly delighted to be here. The Embassy and the Cultural Centre will seize this opportunity to further support Confucius Institutes and Chinese language classrooms in improving the quality of their programmes and expanding access to Chinese language learning; to actively build platforms for youth exchanges between the two countries; and to continue holding diverse cultural events so that more Nigerian young people can experience the charm of Chinese culture and carry the torch of China-Nigeria friendship into the next generation,” he said.

Counsellor Yang also noted that the theme of this year’s foreign secondary school competition is ”Chasing Dreams through Chinese, making every moment count,” and marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria.

”You are all in the prime of your youth, and your choice to learn Chinese and step onto the ”Chinese Bridge” stage is itself an act of courage and commitment. I hope you will use this competition as both a mirror and a motivator, allowing your dreams of mastering Chinese to take root and grow in these formative years,” he stated and continued.

”Over 55 years of shared journey and mutual support, the peoples of China and Nigeria have forged a deep and abiding friendship, and our bilateral relationship now stands at a new historical starting point. The launch of the China-Africa People-to-People Exchange presents a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation between China and Nigeria in education, culture, the arts, and sports. We are confident that as the hearts of our two peoples draw ever closer, the foundation of our friendship will grow ever stronger.” he stated.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary for Education, FCT, Mrs. Joy Okeke, while delivering her speech, commended the embassy’s role in expanding language education.

”Language is not just a tool for communication but a vital means of transmitting civilization, generational cohesion, commerce, one-to-one human adaptability and acceptance. You may like to know that the FCT Schools is so far the only public secondary school in the Nation with well-established Chinese Corners, where Language, Wushu, Cultural Dances, Lion Dances, Art and Craft, capacity building, and numerous bilateral activities take place annually in promoting our collaborations.”

”On behalf of the FCT Education Secretariat, I would like to once again express our profound gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria for the beneficial Win-Win Cooperation. We are on our part putting all necessary things in order to fully commence the learning of the Chinese language in our schools. I congratulate the Embassy for this feat and urge the learners to make good use of the opportunity for human development.” she said.

Further, Professor Yu of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Professor Wu of the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos also addressed contestants and guests, urging students to see language as a bridge to culture while leveraging the platform to showcase their talents and achieve their dreams.

Meanwhile, eight students from the two Confucius Institutes competed before a panel of five professional Chinese judges. The contests were scored out of 100 points across four segments: Chinese Knowledge Quiz, Chinese Singing Competition – “Flying High with Chinese”, Chinese Cultural Talent Performance Video, and Impromptu Question and Answer Session.

Michael Uchechi Justina emerged as the overall winner with 95.2 points. Umezurike Favour Chinaetugo placed second with 90.6 points, while Okoye Chikadibia Faith came third with 72.6 points, respectively.

The event also served as a prelude to the university-level ‘’Chinese Bridge’’ competition, and aligns with Beijing’s designation of 2026 as the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges.