The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, has said Nigeria needs to invest in education, food, housing, security and other critical sectors for the country to eradicate poverty from the land.
Jianchun spoke yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of the Hausa version of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book, titled: Up and Out of Poverty, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore in members of his cabinet to help him actualise his Renewed Hope agenda.
The Chinese envoy said there were many lessons from the book for Nigeria as the country and China share many similarities.
He said the book, which was written in 1988, contains the thoughts of the current president on how to eradicate poverty.
Jianchun noted that it was the book the Chinese president used in eradicating extreme poverty between 2012 and 2022.
The ambassador said poverty revolves around two basic needs and three guarantees.
He added: “For the basic needs, we have, first, food; and secondly, clothing. For the three guarantees, we have compulsory education, basic medical care, and safe housing…
“Nigeria needs to fix the educational sector. The country has a lot of dropouts. We all know that without education, a country cannot move forward.
He added: “For the basic needs, we have, first, food; and secondly, clothing. For the three guarantees, we have compulsory education, basic medical care, and safe housing…
“Nigeria needs to fix the educational sector. The country has a lot of dropouts. We all know that without education, a country cannot move forward.
“The measures that China took were to boost the economy. The economy is a decisive factor to eliminate poverty. Nigeria needs to rely on its strength, natural resources and create more jobs for its citizens.”
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the book launch was apt, given the country’s mass poverty in which 80 million people live below the poverty line, especially in the northern part of the country.
Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Special Services Office of the SGF, Aliyu Shinkafi, said the Hausa version of the book would help Nigerians to benefit from the growth and development of China.
He said: “This launch is timely and shows what both countries share in common.”