The Federal Government has opened the door to lessons from China’s poverty-reduction experience as Nigeria searches for more effective ways to tackle poverty and expand opportunities for its citizens.
PerSecondNews reports that the position was outlined by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, at a strategic stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ahmed, who was represented by the former spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria could draw useful lessons from China’s long-term planning, infrastructure-led growth and targeted poverty-reduction programmes.
“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,” he said.
Ahmed noted that Nigeria, like many developing countries, continues to face poverty, unemployment and inequality, requiring pragmatic and collaborative responses suited to its own circumstances.
“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 said.
He also underscored the role of diplomatic correspondents and the media in fostering public understanding, scrutinising policy choices and promoting accountability through accurate and balanced reporting.
Ahmed reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to deepening international cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange and promoting partnerships that attract responsible investment, technology transfer and capacity-building programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, the Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy, Sun Xuekun, said China’s poverty-reduction achievement was unprecedented in scale and speed.
“Since the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, China has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, contributing over 70 percent of global poverty reduction,” Sun said.
He added that by the end of 2020, China had lifted 98.99 million rural residents out of poverty, while 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages were removed from poverty status.
Sun attributed the achievement to strong government leadership, targeted interventions, sustained economic development, infrastructure investment, education, healthcare and social protection.
“Nearly 1.6 trillion yuan was invested in special poverty-alleviation funds and we deployed more than three million officials and village work-team members to support the programme.
“Poverty has different causes in different regions and at different stages of development. China consistently pursued solutions based on local conditions, adjusting strategies as circumstances evolved,” he said.
He urged developing countries to study China’s experience and adapt relevant elements according to their own national circumstances.
On his part, Idehai Frederick, the DICAN Chairman said China’s experience of lifting more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty offered valuable lessons for Nigeria, but cautioned against directly transplanting the model.
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