From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government and the House of Representatives, have applauded the Chinese Government over the China Women’s Film Festival organised by the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Gabriel Zock, gave the commendation at the opening ceremony of the China Women’s Film Festival in Abuja.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim who was represented by her Special Assistant on Creative Economy, Rukkayah Mohammed, said the festival was a distinguished platform that celebrated creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling to connect nations and inspire change.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the Chinese Embassy and the China Cultural Center in Nigeria for this thoughtful initiative which continues to strengthen the deep-rooted ties of friendship, culture, cultural exchange, and mutual respect between our two nations,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
The minister also said the festival held a special significance as it coincided with the renewed global reflection of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework that shaped three decades of global advocacy for women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment.
She further said in a few days, the international community will once again revisit and re-energize the spirit of Beijing, reaffirming the shared responsibility to ensure that women, girls everywhere live freely, fulfilled, and empowered.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that for Nigeria, the moment aligned closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which placed people at the heart of national development.
She stated that through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Program, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is advancing transformative initiatives that promote women economic empowerment, strengthening family system, enhancing child protection, and improve welfare of the vulnerable group.
“These interventions are designed to build inclusive growth, restore dignity, and expand opportunities for every Nigerian, particularly women and children. In these regards, deepening collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria holds immense promise. China’s success in leveraging culture, technology, and social innovation to advancement and development offers valuable lessons for Nigeria.
“Our partnership can continue to foster capacity building, creative industry exchange, and women-led entrepreneurship, especially in areas such as digital storytelling, film, and cultural diplomacy. Together, we can amplify women’s voices and strengthen bilateral cooperation in ways that directly touches lives and communities. The China Women’s Films Festival beautifully embodies the spirit of cooperation.
“Through the power of film, it presents authentic and inspiring stories of women, stories that mirror resilience, leadership, universal quest for equity. These are stories that build bridges for understanding and shaping the moral imagination of nations. As we celebrate this festival, may we do so in the spirit of Beijing, with creativity, compassion, and collaboration at the core of our actions.
“Let us continue to champion women’s visibility, deepen global solidarity, and work together to advance and share ideas of equality, inclusion, and social development,” the minister also said.
Also speaking, Zock commended the Embassy of China and the China Cultural Center in Nigeria for their consistent commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and fostering creative exchange between our two nations.
Zock said: “This event, coinciding with the Global Women’s Summit, is timely and significant. It highlights the resilience, creativity, and leadership of women through cinema, one of the most powerful instruments for shaping perceptions, preserving heritage, and driving social change. By celebrating the achievements of women in film, China not only showcases its cinematic excellence but also reinforces a shared global vision of gender equality, empowerment, and inclusive growth.”
The lawmaker further said China and Nigeria share a deep and historic partnership, anchored on mutual respect, cultural cooperation, and economic collaboration.
He added that the festival was another bridge, linking the creative communities and inspiring new possibilities for co-productions, artistic collaborations, and knowledge exchange.
“These are vital pathways for achieving sustainable development and global understanding through culture,” he stated.
In his remarks, the representative of the Embassy of China in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, said women have played indispensable roles in the development of human society as mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives.
Zhou also said women are not only the foundation of families and societies, but also a vital force driving social development and progress.
He added that the Chinese government has always attached great importance to improving women’s social status, and creating equal opportunities for them in education and employment.
“This has enabled Chinese women to fully utilize their intelligence, talents, and creativity, playing an irreplaceable and important role in China’s transformation from a poor and backward country to a world-renowned economic powerhouse in just over 40 years,” Zhou said.
Speaking with Daily Sun, the Cultural Counsellor, China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said the Chinese Government hoped that through the event, many Nigerian friends can feel the resilience of Chinese women and people will in turn, have the same feeling about Nigerian women.
