National
FG Introduces Chinese Language into School Curriculum

By Diafa Doubra,
The Federal Government has announced the inclusion of Chinese (Mandarin) in Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum as part of efforts to expand foreign language learning and strengthen international relations.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the move was aimed at preparing Nigerian students for global opportunities while deepening cultural and economic ties with China. He explained that Mandarin will be taught alongside existing foreign languages such as French and Arabic, giving students more options to build competitive skills.
The Minister added that training programmes for teachers are already in place to ensure effective implementation, and pilot schools will begin offering the subject from the new academic session.
Education experts have welcomed the initiative but stressed the need for government to also prioritize indigenous languages, arguing that cultural preservation should go hand in hand with global competitiveness.