In an effort to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and China, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has inaugurated its Institute of Nigeria-China Development Studies.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said at the inauguration on Tuesday evening that the institute was among various innovations designed to enable the university to brace up to current trends in global affairs.
He said that the institute was an academic concern that would interact extensively with the larger society.
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The vice-chancellor said that the institute would be world-class and a comprehensive resource centre for Chinese investors in Nigeria and Nigerian businessmen and others desiring to collaborate, cooperate or work with one another.
He added that the institute was designed to create a conducive environment for exchanges in order to strengthen corporation between Nigeria and China at all levels.
Ogundipe said that the institute would embark on elaborate research in major operational fields such as natural (pure), applied and human sciences.
“The very special nature of this establishment is that it transcends the popular intellectual movement into Chinese Studies worldwide.
“This new institution will also create multiple avenues for the study of Chinese civilisation, side-by-side Nigerian civilisation.
“There is the need for both Nigerian and Chinese civilisations to interact with a view to identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each, so as to provide a platform for mutual growth,” Ogundipe said.
According to the vice-chancellor, the institute was conceived by three parties – Confucius Institute at the university, Chinese Investors Association for Development and Promotion, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos.
He noted that Nigeria had a peculiar relationship with China `as there is hardly any Nigerian who does not identify with China’.
Ogundipe said that the significance of both Nigeria and China in both regional and global affairs could not be over-emphasised.
According to him, China remains the world’s fastest-growing economy and world’s second-largest economy, while Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and shows enough promise to advance on the ladder of world economies.
“Having said this, from the economy point of view, therefore, the two countries will understand themselves better after the inauguration of this institute for they share a lot in common.
“Nigeria is one of those friends that China has developed trading and technological relationships with, and through these, other areas have surreptitiously opened up.
“It is, therefore, the design of the institute to identify and put together the fragments of the Nigeria-China relationship, especially in commercial, technical and intellectual activities.
“Apart from commerce and trade, there is need to properly harness the immense potential of Nigeria-China relationship in other areas such as general policies and diplomacy, arts, crafts, culture and tourism and more,” he said.
Mr Ronnie Liu Changan, President, Chinese Investors Association for Development and Promotion, described the inauguration as a milestone achievement, saying that it was an avenue to further promote socio-cultural ties between the two countries.
According to him, the institute will facilitate the development of both countries by promoting educational and cultural exchanges.
He added that it would strengthen traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries, and serve as a platform for mutual learning and win-win cooperation between the countries.
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