President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, concluded his official visit to China, departing for London, United Kingdom via Dubai after a successful engagement with Nigerians living in China.
In a meeting held at the China World Hotel in Beijing, President Tinubu assured representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in China (NIDO China) and the broader Nigerian community of his administration’s commitment to delivering good governance and replicating the development successes witnessed in China.
Speaking about the accomplishments of his visit, President Tinubu described the trip as “very good and successful.”
He highlighted his discussions with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, which centered on strengthening cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy, and mining. The President also led Nigeria’s participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
In addressing the Nigerian community, President Tinubu acknowledged the ongoing economic reforms in Nigeria and the tough but necessary decisions his administration has taken. Referring to recent adjustments, he said:
“Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices. But can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?”
Emphasizing the importance of making difficult choices for the country’s long-term development, Tinubu added, “What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?”
Praising the talents of Nigerians in China, particularly their fluency in Mandarin, the President urged them to continue contributing to Nigeria’s development: “It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people. The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development.”
One key takeaway from the President’s visit, as he highlighted, is the plan to replicate China’s infrastructural progress back home.
“We want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings. We must make our teaching innovative and allow businesses of all kinds and sizes to flourish,” he said, adding that his role is to provide the leadership necessary to steer the country in this direction.
“One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hand to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that.”
Despite the challenges, President Tinubu reiterated his readiness to take tough decisions for the benefit of the nation: “It is not always easy for a leader to have a national consensus on issues, but I am ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward. We are focused, and I have a very good team.”
During the meeting, Dr. Oche Barnabas, President of NIDO China, requested President Tinubu’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation by the Chinese government.
Barnabas noted that such recognition would expand job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.
As President Tinubu departs for London, his visit to China marks another step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen international relations and spur domestic growth through strategic partnerships.