By Gabriel Ameh
Voice of Nigeria (VON) has launched its Mandarin Service as its ninth broadcast language, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations, promoting cultural exchange and expanding Nigeria’s presence among Chinese-speaking audiences worldwide.
The service was officially unveiled on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, with representatives of the Chinese Embassy, Voice of Nigeria, the Nigeria Press Council and other stakeholders attending the ceremony.
Speaking at the launch, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, described the initiative as an important platform for deepening friendship and mutual understanding between China and Africa.
He highlighted the China-Nigeria Bridge radio programme, jointly initiated by the Chinese Embassy, Xinhua News Agency Africa Regional Bureau and Voice of Nigeria, with the China Cultural Centre as a supporting partner.
According to Yang, the programme began broadcasting on September 2, 2026, and has so far delivered ten episodes combining Mandarin language lessons with reports on China-Africa cooperation.
He said the programme was designed to encourage cultural exchange, help African audiences learn Mandarin and improve public understanding of developments in China-Africa relations.
Yang commended Voice of Nigeria for its commitment to strengthening people-to-people engagement and expressed hope that the initiative would encourage more young Africans to learn Chinese and become ambassadors of friendship between the two regions.
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, described the introduction of Mandarin as the organisation’s ninth broadcast language as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s international broadcasting efforts.
Represented by the Director of General Services, Danladi Abdulkarim, Ndace said the service would showcase Nigeria’s culture, music, tourism, business opportunities and national values to Chinese-speaking audiences.
He added that the initiative would promote mutual understanding and support the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Nigeria and China.
Ndace recalled that the project followed the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing and subsequent engagements involving Voice of Nigeria, the Chinese Embassy and other media organisations.
He also highlighted the training of 26 Nigerian journalists, including five VON personnel, in Beijing in April 2026.
According to him, agreements signed with Xinhua News Agency and the Chinese Embassy cover content exchange, staff training, broadcasting capacity development, cultural cooperation and efforts to combat misinformation.
The Director-General said the Mandarin Service would provide an additional platform for Nigerians and Chinese audiences to access credible, balanced and accurate information about both countries.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Press Council, Dilli Ezughah, described the initiative as an important demonstration of how media collaboration and cultural diplomacy can strengthen relationships between nations.
He noted that the programme’s ambition to reach audiences across all 54 African countries could transform it from a bilateral media partnership into a broader platform for continental cultural understanding.
The launch comes as Nigeria and China mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, which has also been designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
With the new service, Voice of Nigeria is seeking to strengthen international media cooperation, project Nigeria’s identity to Chinese-speaking audiences and create more opportunities for cultural and economic engagement between Nigeria, China and the wider African continent.
Source: Voice of Nigeria (VON), as reported by Michael Onjewu.
