The Chinese community in Abuja, in partnership with Nigerian actors, organized a temple fair on Saturday for the Spring Festival, marking the Chinese New Year which this year inaugurates the Year of the Horse.
The event attracted over 1,500 participants, offering Wushu demonstrations, calligraphy, tea, and traditional Chinese medicine workshops, as well as a photo exhibition and tastings of classic Chinese dishes. A promotional video for the China Media Group's (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala was also shown.
Zhou Hongyou, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, recalled the historical significance of the event: "After 55 years of cooperation, Sino-Nigerian relations have become a model of South-South cooperation."
Joseph Tegbe, Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, highlighted the tangible results of bilateral cooperation, notably the $1 billion National Integrated Poultry Project, inspired by Chinese agricultural models. He stated, “We welcome Chinese businesses to Nigeria, encourage partnerships, and prioritize capacity building, skills transfer, and shared growth. On this Chinese New Year, let us celebrate the spirit of the Horse.”
Chukwuka Ojukwuara, executive director of the Center for African Economic Studies, expressed his admiration for China's development: "I hope China continues to progress. There is a lot of fragmentation in the multilateral space, but China has proven to be a very resilient nation. I wish them the best."
The temple fair thus combined culture, gastronomy and economic cooperation, celebrating both the Chinese New Year and the strong ties between Nigeria and China.
