The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has said Nigeria and China are exploring opportunities to develop creative enterprises around tea, promote local adaptations and deepen cultural cooperation between both countries.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Maritime Silk Road Impressions: Immersive Salon of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Ancient Zayton Port.
Earlier, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre, Zhou Hongyou, in his remarks said tea is a bridge for dialogue and mutual learning between Chinese civilisation and other civilizations around the world.
According to him, the ancient Silk Road spirit of “peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit” has continued to inspire growing cooperation between Nigeria and China under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Zhou noted that the recently implemented zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing, is an indication that more Nigerian agricultural products, including sesame, cocoa beans, peanuts and cassava, would gain greater access to Chinese markets for more bilateral benefits for both countries.
“I truly believe that more and more high-quality Nigerian agricultural products will benefit from this zero-tariff policy,” he said..
The permanent secretary shared similar understanding that Nigeria’s growing tea culture presents fresh opportunities for agro-processing, tourism and the creative economy.
Ibrahim said the ministry, under the leadership of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, was committed to “fostering creative enterprises around tea, promoting local adaptations, supporting tea-related festivals and exploring partnerships that enhance Nigerian participation in the global tea economy.”
He noted that although tea was not indigenous to Nigeria, it had gained socio-economic and cultural relevance across homes, markets and corporate spaces.
“The popularity of tea in Nigerian homes, markets and corporate spaces speak to its role as a refined social lubricant. From the northern chai culture, infused with spices and shared in brotherhood, to the urban tea centres springing up in Abuja and Lagos, tea has become a symbol of hospitality and innovation,” he said.
The permanent secretary added that the ministry was backing initiatives aimed at blending traditional practices with modern innovation, establishing cultural hubs for skills exchange and strengthening bilateral partnerships capable of elevating Nigeria’s creative economy globally.
The cultural event featured tea ceremonies, ceramics, incense culture and guqin performances aimed at promoting deeper people-to-people exchanges between both countries.