China, Nigeria promote women’s rights through film

China and Nigeria have re-echoed their shared commitment to gender equality, cultural diplomacy, and creative collaboration at the 2025 China Women’s Film Festival, which opened on Friday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja. The four-day festival — jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the China Cultural Centre — celebrates the power […]

China and Nigeria have re-echoed their shared commitment to gender equality, cultural diplomacy, and creative collaboration at the 2025 China Women’s Film Festival, which opened on Friday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.

The four-day festival — jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the China Cultural Centre — celebrates the power of women in film.

It features four women-themed Chinese films: The Dumpling Queen, The Beautiful Life, Song of Spring, and Her Story, with each film highlighting the strength, creativity, and resilience of women shaping society through their stories.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Zhou Hongyou, representing the Chinese Embassy, described women as “an indispensable force in the development of human society”.

“Women are not only the foundation of families and societies but also a vital force driving social development and progress,” Zhou said. “The Chinese government has always attached great importance to improving women’s social status and creating equal opportunities in education and employment.”

Citing data from China’s latest government white paper, Zhou highlighted major milestones in women’s development, stating that, “Today, 690 million women in China have achieved moderate prosperity. Women now account for 43 per cent of the total employed population, and more than half of university students are female, with an average life expectancy of 80.9 years.”

He added that China’s national development plans consistently integrate women’s advancement, noting that the country remains “a practitioner and advocate of gender equality”.

“China is willing to work with Nigeria and other countries to accelerate women’s comprehensive development and open a new chapter in women’s empowerment globally,” he affirmed.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hon. Gabriel Zock, commended the initiative at the opening ceremony.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by her Special Assistant on Creative Economy, Rukkayah Mohammed, described the festival as “a distinguished platform celebrating creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling to connect nations and inspire change.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that the moment aligns closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places people at the heart of national development.

She explained that through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programme, the Ministry is advancing initiatives to promote women’s economic empowerment, strengthen family systems, enhance child protection, and improve the welfare of vulnerable groups.

“Through the power of film, the China Women’s Film Festival presents authentic stories of women — stories that mirror resilience, leadership, and the universal quest for equity.”