China, Nigeria Sign Creative Industry Pact To Enhance Cultural Diplomacy

The People’s Republic of China and Nigeria have signed a ground-breaking creative industry cooperation to boost film co-productions, content exchange, professional training, technology transfer, and broader collaboration across the creative sectors.

The agreement which was entered into by The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the China Movie Channel (CMC) on Friday in Abuja was meant to also promote cultural diplomacy as well as strengthen bilateral relations between both countries through arts, literature and film.The agreement was signed during the China–Nigeria Film and Literature Symposium at the China Cultural Centre, which attracted government officials, diplomats, broadcasters, filmmakers and literary figures from both countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, in his remarks said literature and cinema are enduring expressions of human civilization that preserve history, shape identity, and promote mutual understanding among nations.

The Chinese envoy said his country and Nigeria have rich literary and cinematic heritage, and have increasingly embraced each other’s creative works. He added that prominent Nigerian authors such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are very famous in China because of their literary works, which many Chinese have embraced through wide readership in China.

He also said that Chinese literary works have continued to attract growing audiences in Nigeria boosting the literary genre.

Yu stressed that China produces over 700 films annually and operates more than 93,000 cinema screens, while Nigeria’s Nollywood remains the world’s second-largest film industry with more than 2,000 films produced each year, adding that these underscores the strength of both countries film industry.

“The content exchange cooperation agreement between China Movie Channel and NTA will build a crucial platform for the people of both nations to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

“Writers as well as film and television professionals from China and Nigeria will also jointly explore how literature, film and television can better serve the development of our times and tell national stories well,” the ambassador said.

He added that the event, held as both countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations, reflects their commitment to implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and strengthening people-to-people exchanges under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In his reaction, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, said the symposium was another demonstration of the flourishing friendship between Nigeria and China and their shared commitment to cultural diplomacy.

He commended China’s achievements in education, infrastructure, technological innovation and poverty reduction, noting that many Nigerian officials and professionals have benefited from Chinese-sponsored scholarships, capacity-building programmes and cultural exchanges.

“We express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China and to President Xi Jinping for their steadfast commitment to international cooperation and cultural exchanges that continue to strengthen China-Nigeria bilateral relations,” Muhammad said.

He said the CMC-NTA partnership would open new opportunities for co-productions, skills development, knowledge sharing, and greater global visibility for creative talents from both countries.

“As Nigeria continues to implement policies aimed at unlocking the immense potential of the creative and cultural industries as drivers of economic growth, job creation, and national development, partnerships such as this are both timely and invaluable,” he added.

Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, during his remarks said the agreement has opened the floodgate of greater opportunities in Nigeria-China relations aimed at increasing mutual benefits.

“The CMC-NTA Strategic Cooperation Agreement will provide a strong platform for content co-production, programme exchange, professional training, technology transfer and the wider distribution of Nigerian and Chinese creative works.

“It will also create opportunities for our filmmakers, writers, broadcasters, and young creative talents to learn, collaborate, and reach new audiences,” Dembos said.He stressed that the partnership aligns with NTA’s transformation into a modern, digitally driven public broadcaster and should deliver measurable outcomes through quality joint productions, enhanced professional capacity, and technological innovation.

During the symposium participants were thrilled by storytelling, film production, and literary collaboration, just as they watched an exciting Chinese action film “Blades of the Guardians” full of entertainment.