By Gabriel Ameh
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has urged Nigerian journalists to go beyond reporting events and help citizens understand how technology, government policies and international partnerships affect their daily lives.
Ike made the call at the China Insights and Experience-Sharing Forum for Outstanding Participants of China Seminars, held at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja on Thursday.
She said Nigeria could learn valuable lessons from China’s development experience, particularly in electricity, skills development, innovation and long-term economic planning.
However, she cautioned that Nigeria should not copy China’s development model wholesale but adapt useful lessons to its own needs and circumstances.
LESSONS FROM CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Reflecting on the training programme in Shenyang and Beijing, Ike said participants gained insights into China’s approach to energy security, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, robotics and industrial development.
She explained that visits to educational institutions and power facilities demonstrated how research, technical knowledge and innovation could support economic growth and improve people’s lives.
According to her, natural resources alone cannot guarantee sustainable development without investment in human capacity, technology and effective long-term planning.
“Future economic development does not have to rely on proportionally increasing fossil-fuel consumption,” she said, pointing to China’s efforts to build a more efficient, low-carbon and sustainable energy system.
Ike noted that Nigeria must focus on developing its human and natural resources in ways that produce practical benefits for citizens, including reliable electricity and better opportunities for skills development.
WHY JOURNALISTS MUST PLAY A BIGGER ROLE
The NUJ FCT chairman said journalists have a responsibility to explain emerging technologies, encourage informed public discussions and help Nigerians understand how government policies translate into everyday realities.
She also emphasised the media’s role in holding institutions accountable and ensuring that development programmes deliver measurable results.
Beyond technology and trade, Ike called for stronger Nigeria-China relations through cultural exchange, professional collaboration and people-to-people engagement.
She specifically encouraged greater cooperation between Nigerian and Chinese media organisations through training opportunities, knowledge-sharing initiatives and professional exchange programmes.
Her remarks align with the NUJ FCT Council’s engagement in Nigeria-China cultural cooperation, including the Ni Hao! China radio initiative, which promotes Chinese language learning and cultural understanding.
TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION
While commending the Chinese Cultural Centre, programme organisers and Chinese hosts for providing the learning platform, Ike stressed that the real value of the experience would depend on how participants apply the knowledge acquired.
She urged participants to share their experiences with colleagues, adapt relevant lessons to their professional responsibilities and sustain the relationships established during their time in China.
“We must ensure that the knowledge we acquired does not end with the seminar,” she said.
“We must share it with our colleagues, apply relevant lessons in our professional and national contexts, and sustain the relationships established during our time in China.”
Ike expressed optimism about stronger Nigeria-China collaboration in 2027 and ended her address with the Chinese expression, “Xièxiè,” meaning thank you.
Source: Remarks by Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman, NUJ FCT Council, at the China Insights and Experience-Sharing Forum for Outstanding Participants of China Seminars, Abuja.
