The Federal Government has introduced Mandarin as one of the international languages to be taught in senior secondary schools across Nigeria.
The move followed a recent review of the national curriculum aimed at broadening language options for students.
The announcement was made during the commissioning of the 14th Chinese Corner at Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja.
The centres, which are sponsored by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, provide platforms for cultural exchange and language learning.
According to education officials, the inclusion of Mandarin reflects the growing global role of the Chinese language, which is widely spoken and increasingly used in commerce, education, and tourism.
They said that the initiative also creates opportunities for Nigerian students to further their studies in China while fostering stronger ties between both countries.
The Chinese Corners, first introduced in 2013, have now expanded across various schools in the Federal Capital Territory, with plans for additional centres.
Teachers and education staff in the territory have also benefited from training programmes in China.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council confirmed in a circular dated September 8, 2025, that the new curriculum will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session.
Alongside Mandarin, other international languages such as French and Arabic remain part of the optional subjects for secondary schools.
