The Federal Government has called for a careful assessment of China’s development experience to identify lessons that can be adapted to Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts while taking into account the country’s social, political and economic realities.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, in a goodwill message delivered at a strategic stakeholders’ workshop organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja.
Represented by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Ahmed said Nigeria, like many developing countries, continues to face challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality, which require pragmatic and collaborative responses.
He said China’s development experience offers useful lessons in long-term planning, infrastructure-led growth, targeted poverty reduction programmes and the mobilization of domestic resources, but stressed that development strategies must reflect each country’s institutions, values and social realities.
According to him, Nigeria should identify aspects of the Chinese model that can be adapted to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen social protection systems, promote public-private partnerships and expand investments in human capital while maintaining transparency, accountability and democratic governance.
The Permanent Secretary said policymakers must design reforms suited to local realities and ensure effective implementation and monitoring, while development partners should provide technical expertise, financing and international experience aligned with Nigeria’s priorities.
He also underscored the role of diplomatic correspondents and the media in fostering public understanding, scrutinizing policy choices and promoting accountability through accurate and balanced reporting.
Ahmed reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to deepening international cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange and promoting partnerships that attract responsible investment, technology transfer and capacity-building programmes.
He urged participants at the workshop to produce practical recommendations capable of accelerating sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, the Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy, Sun Xuekun, said China has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty since the country’s reform and opening-up policies began in 1978.
Sun said the achievement accounted for more than 70 per cent of global poverty reduction and transformed China from one of the world’s poorest countries into a major contributor to global poverty alleviation efforts.
According to him, nearly 100 million rural residents remained below the poverty line at the end of 2012, but all had been lifted out of poverty by the end of 2020. During that period, China removed 98.99 million rural residents, 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages from poverty status.
He said China eradicated absolute poverty and achieved the poverty reduction target under the United Nations 2030 Agenda ten years ahead of schedule.
Sun attributed the success to strong government leadership, targeted poverty alleviation policies and sustained economic development.
He said the Chinese government invested nearly 1.6 trillion yuan in special poverty alleviation funds and deployed more than three million officials and village work-team members to support poverty reduction efforts.
He explained that China shifted from broad poverty relief programmes to targeted interventions based on detailed assessments of households and communities.
These measures included industrial development, relocation from inhospitable areas, educational support, ecological compensation programmes and expanded social protection.
He also highlighted the role of infrastructure investments in roads, drinking water, electricity, telecommunications, education and healthcare in addressing the root causes of poverty.
According to Sun, China has also introduced measures to prevent people from falling back into poverty, including a five-year transition period and strengthened monitoring and assistance systems.
The DICAN Chairman, Idehai Frederick, said Nigeria could benefit from adapting elements of China’s poverty alleviation strategy while taking local realities into account.
Frederick described the workshop theme as timely, noting that Africa’s poverty challenge requires practical solutions and a close examination of successful development models.
He said evaluating Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts through the lens of China’s experience had become increasingly important amid economic adjustments, food security concerns and ongoing reforms.
Drawing from a recent study tour of China by African media executives, Frederick said participants observed rural revitalization projects and modernization initiatives that could offer useful lessons for developing countries.
He called for expanded fellowship opportunities, media exchange programmes and technical journalism training for DICAN members, while urging stronger engagement between the association and the Chinese business community.
While acknowledging China’s achievement in lifting more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty, Frederick maintained that Nigeria should adapt rather than replicate the Chinese model.
He identified data-driven interventions at household and community levels, infrastructure development, mutually beneficial economic partnerships and development assistance aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as key areas for consideration.
Frederick also urged Nigeria to take advantage of China’s zero-tariff policy for African exports by strengthening local supply chains, improving product standards and expanding non-oil exports to the Chinese market.
The workshop brought traditional institution, policy makers, media practitioners, diplomats and other stakeholders to discuss poverty alleviation strategies and lessons from international development experiences.
