China marks Lantern Festival, pushes for women’s inclusion

China has expressed its commitment to gender equality, education and people-to-people exchanges. They used the Lantern Festival and the China-Nigeria Women’s Carnival celebrated in Abuja on Tuesday as a platform to spotlight women’s empowerment. Linking culture with development, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, emphasised the role of women in national progress. “Women are […]

China has expressed its commitment to gender equality, education and people-to-people exchanges.

They used the Lantern Festival and the China-Nigeria Women’s Carnival celebrated in Abuja on Tuesday as a platform to spotlight women’s empowerment.

Linking culture with development, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, emphasised the role of women in national progress.

“Women are the bond of families, the cornerstone of society and a vital force driving social development and progress,” he said.

Citing China’s record, Yu stated that by 2025, about 690 million women had achieved what he described as a moderately prosperous life, while maternal mortality had dropped by nearly 80 per cent.

Women account for more than 40 per cent of the workforce and over half of entrepreneurs in the internet sector, he added.

These figures demonstrate that without the development of women themselves and their outstanding contributions, China’s tremendous development would not have been possible,” he said.

The envoy also recalled that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and has been designated the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”.

 

 

 

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mukhtar YanaIe Muhammad, described women as key drivers of cultural preservation and innovation.

 

 

 

“As lanterns brighten the night sky, our women light the path of progress. They illuminate the way forward with innovation and shine a light on the power of unity,” he said.

 

 

 

He pledged that the ministry would intensify policies aimed at accelerating cultural exchanges, empowering women in the digital economy and expanding tourism cooperation between both countries.