China's Consul General in Lagos has called for the integration of Mandarin into mainstream curricula across Nigerian Universities, secondary schools, and primary schools, predicting it will become the most practical and popular foreign language among young Nigerians as ties between both countries deepen.

Yan Yuqing asserted in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the 2026 UN Chinese Language Day, a date the United Nations marks annually to celebrate multilingualism and promote equal use of its six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

The envoy described language as the cornerstone of cultural diplomacy, arguing that promoting Mandarin in Nigeria goes beyond classroom instruction. "Standing at a new starting point for jointly building a China Africa community with a shared future, the promotion of Chinese is no longer merely cultural exchanges but a platform for equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation," she stated.

Yan pointed to concrete opportunities awaiting Nigerian youth who acquire Mandarin proficiency. "Mastering Chinese undoubtedly empowers Nigerian youth to soar. It provides access to China's huge market and global development resources, enabling personal growth to resonate with national development," she said.

She disclosed that 5,000 Nigerian students are currently studying in China, supported by scholarships from the Chinese government and enterprises. Bilingual professionals fluent in both Mandarin and English, she added, are in high demand across business negotiation, cross border cooperation, and market operations as Chinese funded enterprises expand across Nigeria.

The envoy cited Nigeria's first female train driver, Issa Fatima, as a beneficiary of the Chinese Language Plus Vocational Skills initiative, which combines language learning with practical professional training.

Yan referenced existing collaboration frameworks, including Confucius Institutes at the University of Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the Window to China Library project at the University of Port Harcourt and Afe Babalola University, and exchange programmes between Edo State Polytechnic and Fuzhou Polytechnic.

She expressed confidence that within five to ten years, Mandarin would shift from an elective to a compulsory subject in Nigerian schools. "Soon, Chinese will no longer be an optional course, but a compulsory course opening doors to the wider world," she said.