Chinese Embassy rewards students for showcasing frontline health workers’ COVID-19 response via artwork

The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has given prizes to 18 students for using artwork to showcase efforts of frontline health workers in the global response against the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The 18 winners emerged after participating in  the Chinese Ambassador Drawing competition.
Mr Li Xuda, Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre said this at the 2020 award ceremony in Abuja with the theme: `The strength of China/ Nigeria solidarity in defeating COVID-19′.
According to Li, there were 35 contestants from 12 secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 18 of them were given prizes and consolations.
He said the students were able to use their talents through art to showcase how Chinese and Nigerian doctors as well as frontline health workers had been working tirelessly to combat COVID-19.
Li said the annual drawing competition showcased the rich culture and heritage of the Chinese people and the friendship between Nigeria and China in the form of art works, especially drawings.
“As we know, the China Drawing competition is a yearly activity that showcases the rich culture and heritage of the Chinese people and the friendship between Nigeria and China in form of art works especially in forms of drawings. The first edition of this drawing competition happened in 2014. It has even become more and more famous as a cultural brand. As you know, this year the competition is hosted amid COVID-19 and 12 FCT schools participated in this year’s drawing competition. Those talented students drew beautiful pictures by using their talents to express to the Nigerian and Chinese doctors and health workers, who fight the disease in the fore front. They also extended their best wishes to the friendship and solidarity between our two countries with which we will definitely defeat COVID-19. These children are cultural ambassadors to both countries. China and Nigeria are friends for over 50 years and both countries have offered mutual support and fought shoulder by shoulder to defeat COVID-19”.
Li said the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria remained committed to promoting young Nigerian talents and would host more meaningful events to support the fight against COVID-19.
He said while many FCT schools had reopened, the Chinese Embassy would definitely work closely with the FCT Education Board to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students.
Also speaking, Mr Sunny Moniedafe, Board Member 1 of the FCT Education Board lauded the Chinese Embassy for its collaborations with the FCT Education Board in several programmes.
He said the drawing competition had created a platform and opportunity for children to exhibit their talents.
“For me honestly, I am excited because I am seeing the work that these children did, very beautiful, hand-drawn, fantastic, and then the concept behind the whole thing. I hope and pray that they will take this talent further and become people that will draw better pictures that will sell the idea without making too much noise in the Future”.
Winner of the grand prize, Daniel Prosper from Government Secondary School, Mpape expressed appreciation to the Chinese embassy for the opportunity provided for him to showcase his talent.
“This is very encouraging and it will help us pursue our dreams as students and it serves as an encouragement for each and everyone of us. I also remember there was a time also the Chinese doctors sent some doctors into Nigeria here so I decide to draw a doctor which tend to show the impact of the Chinese government in the Nigerian government. So, this was an interesting one”.
Daniel won a Nova Laptop as Grand prize while two other contestants tied in second place won a V9 Huawei phone, and five contestants tied in third place won a V7 Huawei phone.