Painting Competition: Nigerian Teenager, Prosper Wins 1st Prize, Secures Chinese Govt’s Sponsorship
A Nigerian teenager, Prosper has clinched the first prize of a Painting Competition, organised by the Chinese government. The Cultural Councillor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Director, China Cultural Centre Nigeria, Mr Li Xuda, explained that the Nigerian teenager beat 2000 others from among African Youths to emerge the overall winner.
“This year, The Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China Manned Space Engineering Office are co-hosting a painting competition on the theme of My Dreamstarting from 1 March, 2023. In Nigeria, over 10 “China Corner” schools participated in the competition, about 100 pieces of painting were collected, and the Top 5 excellent paintings were sent by the Chinese Embassy to China for the final selection.”
He explained further that the paintings were sent to space yesterday, 30 May, 2023, “I want to share a great news with you: Nigerian teenager Prosper has won the 1st Prize of Painting Competition among over 2000 works from African Youth with his painting “Shared Aspiration”, which was sent to China Space Station yesterday!
“Prosper will be invited to visit China in September and all the related costs including international air tickets will be covered by Chinese government.
“Encouraged by his success, I believe Nigerian students will grow up as new builders of China-Nigeria good relationship, and make our cultural exchange more fruitful as well as our tomorrow more beautiful!”
According to Li, Cultural Exchanges play pivotal role between countries.
“Dear friends, we know that culture is the soul of a nation, so cultural exchange and cooperation definitely plays an important role between countries. In recent years, the cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria has been further strengthened and the fruitful results really benefit the people of our two countries. Since the young generation are the future of a country, here I would like to talk about the benefits that young people have gained from cultural exchange between our two countries. 
“As you know, a long and good relationship has already been built among the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, the China Cultural Center in Nigeria and FCT Secondary Education Board through jointly organizing the yearly “China-Nigeria Painting Competition” for many years. Today “China-Nigeria Painting Competition” has already developed into a well-known cultural brand in FCT, especially our students from “China Corners” schools eagerly look forward to its opening every year so that they can fully display their talents and demonstrate the best of themselves.”
In a brief remark, the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, appreciated the Chinese People and government for their special interest in Nigeria’s development. He announced that plans has been concluded for the Chinese government to train 3,000 young Nigerians in various skills.
In a speech, the Permanent Secretary of the federal ministry of Information, Lydia Hadiya, explained that the s long standing relationship exist between Nigeria and China, noting that this has translated to huge benefits for both sides, as it has afforded the both countries the opportunity to learn about each other’s unique culture.