China Celebrates Lantern Festival and Advocates for Women's Inclusion

China has reaffirmed its dedication to achieving gender equality, enhancing education, and fostering people-to-people relationships.

The Lantern Festival and the China-Nigeria Women’s Carnival, held in Abuja on Tuesday, served as a crucial occasion to highlight the empowerment of women.

In a bid to connect cultural significance with developmental goals, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, underscored the essential part women play in the advancement of the nation.

"Women are the bond of families, the cornerstone of society and a vital force driving social development and progress,” Yu stated.

Pointing to China's achievements, Yu remarked that by 2025, approximately 690 million women would attain what he termed a moderately prosperous life, with maternal mortality rates decreasing by nearly 80 percent.

According to him, women represent over 40 percent of the workforce and more than half of internet sector entrepreneurs in China. This data illustrates that China’s remarkable development is deeply intertwined with the empowerment and contributions of women.

Yu also noted that the year 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, which has been designated as the “China- Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mukhtar YanaIe Muhammad, identified women as pivotal in cultural preservation and innovation.

“As lanterns illuminate the night, our women light the way toward progress. They lead with creativity and underscore the importance of unity,” he affirmed.

Muhammad committed to amplifying policies directed at promoting cultural exchanges, enhancing women's roles in the digital economy, and broadening tourism collaboration between the two nations.