The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has won a Gold Medal at the 8th Nigeria-China Table Tennis Friendship Tournament 2026, reinforcing the role of sports in promoting international friendship and cultural exchange.
The tournament, held on Sunday at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, brought together Nigerian and Chinese participants to promote bilateral relations, cultural understanding and people-to-people engagement through sports.
The Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described the competition as an opportunity for journalists to connect beyond newsroom activities while promoting physical fitness, discipline, teamwork and professional solidarity.
Ike commended the China Cultural Centre for sustaining its partnership with the NUJ FCT Council over the eight editions of the tournament, saying the initiative had strengthened cultural understanding and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and China.
She said that beyond the prizes and competitive excitement, the tournament’s greatest value lay in the friendship, unity and partnerships it continued to foster among participants.
She congratulated the winners and other participants, urging them to uphold mutual respect, compassion and unity alongside the competitive spirit of sports.
Earlier, the Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Yang Jianxing, described the tournament as an important platform for promoting mutual understanding, trust and friendship between Nigerians and Chinese.
He said exchanges and handshakes on the table tennis court reflected mutual respect, teamwork and fair play, adding that sports could transcend language and cultural differences to build lasting relationships.
Yang commended the NUJ and the Nigerian media for their contributions to objective reporting of developments in Nigeria-China relations, particularly in trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology.
He said the media played an important role in strengthening mutual understanding, promoting cultural exchanges and deepening relations between the two countries.
The Chinese diplomat also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian-China Chamber of Commerce and Chinese enterprises operating in Nigeria to economic cooperation, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
He noted that 2026 marked the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.
Yang also highlighted China’s decision to extend zero-tariff treatment, effective May 1, 2026, to imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
He expressed hope that the tournament would further strengthen cooperation among the sporting, media and business communities and contribute to closer Nigeria-China relations.
In the men’s singles category, Mr Ignatius Nkwoh of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) emerged champion, winning the Gold Medal.
Nkwoh expressed appreciation to God, the NUJ FCT Council leadership and the organisers for providing the opportunity to participate in the competition.
He dedicated his trophy to Ike and members of the council’s executive for their encouragement and commitment to promoting sporting activities among journalists.
Other NUJ FCT Council participants also recorded notable performances, including a Bronze Medal in the mixed doubles category and a third-place finish in the men’s singles event.
The tournament underscored the role of sports in fostering diplomacy, cultural understanding and international cooperation, while reaffirming the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and China.
The NUJ FCT Council appreciated the sponsors, partners, participants and organisers for the successful eighth edition and expressed optimism about an even more impactful ninth edition in 2027.
