The Director of Confucius Institute, Professor YuZhay bao has promised to provide more investment in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, especially in promoting the vision and language studies of the Confucius Institute located in the university.
Professor Bao made the pledge on Wednesday when he led a group of Chinese to the university on a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Benard Odoh in his office.
Speaking during a courtesy visit, Professor Bao conveyed a message of congratulations from the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, maintaining that they have implicit confidence in the ability of the new Vice-Chancellor 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 Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odoh said, “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 any time 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 also thanked the staff and the 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”, Odoh pledged.
Also speaking, the Head, Department of Chinese studies, 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.”
Highpoint of the visit featured the presentation of an award, a T-shirt, a Fez cap among other gifts sent to the Vice-Chancellor by the Chinese Embassy in support and solidarity with his promised visionary leadership of the institution as the Seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Also in the team we’re the best performing students from the institution who came tops in a recent Language Competition organized by the institute globally