Chinese and Nigerian workers at a project site in Nigeria have celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with storytelling, poetry, traditional food and discussions aimed at promoting cultural understanding between the two countries.

The celebration, organised by the project team, brought Chinese and Nigerian colleagues together under the theme of cultural exchange, with participants sharing traditions and beliefs associated with the moon in their respective societies.

The event featured lantern displays, mooncakes, poetry recitals and presentations on the history and customs of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chinese staff introduced their Nigerian colleagues to traditional stories associated with the festival, including the legend of Chang’e flying to the moon and the story of Wu Gang and the cassia tree.

They also explained customs such as moon-gazing, eating mooncakes, displaying lanterns and solving riddles.
A major focus of the presentation was the Chinese cultural understanding of the festival as a time for family reunion.

The Chinese team explained that, even when family members are separated by distance, the full moon provides a symbolic connection as people look at the same moon and share thoughts and blessings with their loved ones.

The Nigerian participants said the emphasis on family togetherness resonated with values deeply rooted in Nigerian communities.

Sharing Nigerian moon traditions

The cultural exchange continued with a session in which Nigerian colleagues shared stories and traditions surrounding the moon in different Nigerian communities.

Participants spoke about local beliefs linking the moon with harvest, love, time and seasonal changes, while others explained how the moon has traditionally featured in communal gatherings and storytelling.

One of the Nigerian participants observed that full-moon nights in some communities are occasions for gathering, singing, dancing and storytelling, drawing parallels with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The observation attracted laughter and applause from the participants, who noted the similarities between the two cultures despite their geographical distance.

Chinese staff also discussed the place of the moon in Chinese poetry and folk traditions, with participants agreeing that the shared appreciation of the moon provided a common cultural connection.

Poetry brings colleagues together

The celebration also featured a Chinese poetry session during which Nigerian colleagues were introduced to poems by renowned Chinese poets Su Shi and Li Bai.

The participants recited lines from Shui Diao Ge Tou and Jing Ye Si, with Chinese colleagues explaining the meanings of the verses and helping their Nigerian counterparts with pronunciation.

Particular attention was given to the famous sentiment wishing that loved ones would live long enough to share the beauty of the same moon despite being separated by distance.

The participants described the message as a universal expression of love, friendship and longing that transcends cultural boundaries.

Mooncakes symbolise friendship

The celebration ended with the presentation and sharing of mooncakes, a major traditional food associated with the festival.

Chinese staff explained that the round shape of the mooncake symbolises reunion and completeness before inviting their Nigerian colleagues to taste different varieties, including lotus seed, red bean and mixed-nut fillings.

For some of the Nigerian participants, it was their first experience of eating mooncakes.

One participant described the experience as more than tasting a new food, saying the gesture reflected the care and thoughtfulness of the project team.

The organisers said the celebration provided an opportunity for Nigerian colleagues to experience Chinese culture while enabling Chinese staff to learn more about Nigerian traditions.

They said such activities could strengthen mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between Chinese and Nigerian workers.

The project team said it would continue to use traditional festivals and other cultural activities as platforms for people-to-people exchanges, with the aim of deepening China-Nigeria relations at the community and workplace levels.

The celebration, they added, demonstrated how cultural traditions can provide a bridge between people from different backgrounds and promote greater understanding and cooperation.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued on Wednesday by Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior.

Tunji-Ojo congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad, describing the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the country’s journey since independence and its prospects for the future.

He highlighted Nigeria’s human capital, natural resources and cultural diversity as key national assets, while stressing the importance of peace and stability to the country’s development.

The minister urged Nigerians to emulate the patriotism of the nation’s founding fathers and contribute to building a country that future generations would be proud of.

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country and our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens to use the celebration to promote unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), one of the sponsors of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, will spotlight the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) during the company’s Special Day.

The Dangote Special Day, scheduled for Friday October 2, will feature a high-level fireside and business interactive session bringing together representatives of Dangote Group, government, the organised private sector and business leaders to examine the transformative role of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s economic development.

According to the company, the interactive session will provide prospective investors, entrepreneurs, business operators and other participants with an opportunity to engage directly with representatives of Dangote Group and gain a better understanding of the refinery’s ongoing IPO and its broader economic significance.

The session, themed “Dangote Refinery, Vision 2030, ACCI and the Economy,” will examine the refinery’s contribution to Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation, trade, employment generation, taxation and economic growth.

Particular attention will be paid to how increased domestic refining capacity can reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange, strengthen local value chains and create new opportunities for businesses across the petroleum, petrochemical, logistics, manufacturing and services sectors.

The IPO will also feature prominently in the discussions, with participants expected to explore how the public offer can broaden participation in the ownership of one of Africa’s most significant industrial assets, deepen Nigeria’s capital market and provide eligible investors with an opportunity to participate in the country’s ongoing industrial transformation.

The fireside session will bring together senior representatives of Dangote Group, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), government and the wider private sector.

The company said the session would also provide an opportunity to examine Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 and its implications for industrialisation, job creation, local content development, technology transfer, investment and economic diversification.

Beyond the fireside discussion, visitors to the Trade Fair will have the opportunity to engage with the Dangote Group at its pavilion, where the company will showcase a range of products and businesses spanning cement, sugar, salt and seasoning, packaging and other sectors.

Dangote Group’s sustained participation and sponsorship of the Abuja International Trade Fair reflects its continued support for platforms that promote trade, investment, entrepreneurship and stronger linkages between the private sector and government.

The 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is expected to bring together hundreds of exhibitors, businesses, investors, policymakers and members of the public, providing a platform for networking, market access, investment promotion and business-to-business engagement.

The company said it looks forward to welcoming participants to the Dangote Special Day and its pavilion to explore the Group’s products, investment opportunities and potential areas of business collaboration.