The leaders and chiefs in Anambra state, Nigeria, confer the title of Chief on Yu Zhangbao. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
The Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria has trained nearly 30,000 local Chinese-language learners over the past 17 years, supporting employment for graduates and meeting demand from Chinese enterprises operating in the country. Much of that recent development was shaped by Yu Zhangbao, the Chinese dean of the institute and a professor at Xiamen University's (XMU) Chinese International Education College.
Jointly run by Xiamen University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the institute has become a key channel for meeting growing demand for Chinese-language skills as Chinese enterprises expand infrastructure projects in Nigeria under the Belt and Road Initiative, including railways, roads, bridges and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Yu has served as the institute's dean since 2018. Working in challenging conditions marked by unstable electricity, limited infrastructure, and myriad health risks, he has overseen daily operations while continuing to teach and manage logistics. During the pandemic, Yu remained in Nigeria after other staff returned to China, enabling classes to continue online and allowing more than 300 students to graduate on schedule.
The institute restructured its Chinese-language curriculum since Yu's tenure as Chinese dean, reducing non-essential courses and shortening training cycles. Students who previously required four years to complete their studies can now reach an advanced level of proficiency within two years, with some completing the program in just 18 months.
In 2024, Yu helped establish an undergraduate program that allows about 40 students each year to complete their final two years at XMU and receive degrees from both universities, expanding overseas study opportunities for Nigerian students.
In recognition of his contributions to education, Yu was awarded the title of Chief by the leader of Nigeria's Igbo ethnic group in 2019, becoming the first Chinese to receive the title in southern Nigeria. In 2025, he received a China–Nigeria Friendship Contribution Award from the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Lagos.
