By William Emmanuel Ukpoju
President Bola Tinubu has returned from his official trip to China, describing it as “very good and successful”. During his meeting with Nigerians living in China, he emphasized his efforts to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy, and mining.
Tinubu urged Nigerians in China to be good ambassadors of their nation, emphasizing the importance of discipline and commitment to national service. He cited China’s disciplined society as an example for Nigerians to follow, saying “without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world”.
The President highlighted the impact of investments in China’s economy and assured Nigerians in Diaspora that Nigeria’s Bank of Industry is prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities back home. He also emphasized the need for hard decisions to achieve meaningful development, citing the example of fuel prices and infrastructure development.
Tinubu stated that one key takeaway from his visit to China is the commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure back home, saying “we want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings”. He pledged to provide leadership and take hard decisions to move the nation forward.
Dr. Oche Barnabas, President of NIDO China, commended Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations and expressed support for Nigeria’s 4Ds initiative. He requested the President’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.
The trip has been hailed as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s relations with China and boosting economic development.