The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, have highlighted the role of the radio programme Ni Hao! China in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Nigeria and China.
The Director-General of FRCN, Dr Mohammed Bulama; Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing; and Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, made this known in Abuja at an event marking 456 days of the programme.
Jointly produced by FRCN and the Chinese Embassy, with support from the China Cultural Centre, Ni Hao! China introduces Nigerian audiences to the Chinese language, history, traditions, festivals and contemporary life.
Bulama said the programme had developed into a platform for cultural exchange, language learning and people-to-people engagement, creating opportunities for Nigerians to learn about China beyond official diplomatic and economic relations.
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He said stronger Nigeria–China relations required sustained cultural interaction and public engagement alongside cooperation in trade, infrastructure and other sectors.
The FRCN Director-General also announced plans to upgrade the corporation’s network studio into an audiovisual production facility to strengthen its digital broadcasting capacity.
He said the proposed upgrade would support the production of multimedia content, including short videos and online programmes, while expanding audience participation through social media and interactive activities.
Yang described the 456-day milestone as an opportunity to assess the programme’s reach and explore ways to attract more listeners.
He encouraged the organisers to broaden its content to cover Chinese tourism, education, business and cultural activities. He also called for more opportunities for Chinese audiences to learn about Nigerian traditions and everyday life through Chinese-language content.
Yang further recommended combining radio broadcasts with short videos, social media engagement and physical cultural activities to reach more young people.
He noted that the programme’s development coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and the designation of 2026 as the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
In her remarks, the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike, said the programme demonstrated how broadcasting could promote cross-cultural understanding, challenge misconceptions and encourage peaceful coexistence.
She commended the organisations involved for creating a platform through which audiences could learn about one another’s languages, traditions and ways of life.
Ike said the milestone represented an opportunity to strengthen the programme’s reach through radio and digital platforms, particularly among young Nigerians.
She reaffirmed the council’s support for media initiatives that promote cultural diplomacy, responsible communication and constructive international engagement.
The event brought together government officials, diplomats, media executives, journalists, students, Mandarin learners, cultural stakeholders and listeners of the programme.
The continued development of Ni Hao! China highlights the potential of public broadcasting to support cultural learning and deepen people-to-people connections between Nigeria and other countries.
