By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
The People’s Republic of China has expressed its willingness to partner with Abia State in the fight against hunger and poverty, while strengthening bilateral relations and development cooperation.
This was made known by the Chinese Consul General to Nigeria, Ms. Yan Yuqing, during a working visit to Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia on Wednesday.
Ms. Yuqing said the visit aimed to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas such as agriculture, vocational education, and people-to-people exchanges.
She announced that China would donate computers to the state and link Abia to potential partners in China to support its development goals.
“This trip is a visit of understanding, investigation, and a journey of hope for the future,” she said. “I hope we can open a window to China in your state university, university of agriculture, or state polytechnic.”
Ms. Yuqing also proposed establishing exchange programmes between Abia and Chinese institutions, including student and faculty exchanges, and hinted at the creation of an “Abia City” in China, making Abia the sixth Nigerian state to have such an honour.
Commending Governor Otti’s leadership, she donated food items worth over ₦4 million under China’s “Fight Against Hunger and Poverty” initiative to support the most vulnerable in the state.
In response, Governor Alex Otti welcomed the gesture and expressed readiness to collaborate with China in key sectors to improve the lives of Abia residents.
He said Abians share the Chinese values of resilience, hard work, and enterprise.
“Our people are very hardworking. They don’t believe in handouts; they believe in fending for themselves,” Otti noted. “However, the harsh economic realities cannot be ignored. Today, around 50% of Nigerians still live in poverty, while China, with over 1.4 billion people, has managed to reduce its poverty rate to just 1%. We must be intentional in our efforts to lift our people out of poverty.”
The visit marks a significant step in fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between Abia State and the People’s Republic of China.
