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A team of Chinese citizens, led by the Director of Confucius Institute, Professor YuZhay Bao, Wednesday, promised massive investment in Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, in order to promote the vision of language studies by the Institute.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution popularly known as UNIZIK, Professor Benard Odoh, the government of the Republic of China, through its Language Centre Director, Professor YuZhay Bao, conveyed a message of congratulations from the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.
He said the school has implicit confidence in the ability of the new VC to discharge his duties effectively and turn things around for the institution’s good, especially as it concerns Chinese language studies and other areas of economic and social interests.
Receiving the team, led by the Head, Department of Chinese Language Studies, Dr. Anas Elochukwu, the VC of UNIZIK, Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, said the institution will do everything possible to support the Chinese government.
“Let me thank you and your team for providing the leadership for the Directorate. Out of over 1,300 centres, we emerged in the top 20. It is commendable and we would do whatever we are expected to do to support you.
“Feel free at anytime to reach me and we will give you whatever support we would need to give. We want to come in the top 5 before the next five years,” he said.
Odoh also appreciated UNIZIK staff and students for their efforts in promoting the programme.
“You guys have all done well and I understand the value of what you are doing to promote the language and support us. We will do our best to support the graduates of the programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head, Department of Chinese Studies, Dr. Anas Elochukwu, said the Department was birthed by the Confucius Institute.
“We will continue to do our best to promote the language and our relationship with the government of China,” he said.
Highpoint of the visit featured the presentation of an award, a T-shirt, a Fez cap among other gifts sent to the VC by the Chinese Embassy in support and solidarity with his promised visionary leadership of the institution as the 7th substantive VC of UNIZIK.
Also in the team were the best performing students from the institution, who came tops in a recent language competition organized by the institute globally.
