By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia on Saturday, September 21, 2024, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of Confucius Institutes and the 16th anniversary of Confucius Institute at the UL.
The 2024 Confucius Institute Day which is the “Voice of Liberia” Chinese Song Competition was marked with a display of dexterity from Liberian students on the knowledge about the Chinese language and culture.
The singing competition which showcases Liberian students’ talents in the Chinese language is incredibly done in different songs to entertain the audience and these activities were all aimed at making the institute’s 16th Anniversary colorful as student Aisha D Lansangwalked away with the Grand Prize.
Mariama P Kamara was awarded the First Prize as student Janet Sherrif became the winner of the Second Prize Students Chillin Dorcas Mason,Pierre-martin Mokwa, and Hannah W. Johnsonwere awarded the Third Prize.
Meanwhile, Huang Laoshi, the coordinator of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia stated the significance of Confucius Institute Day and the event (the 20″ anniversary of the founding of Confucius Institutes and the 16th anniversary of Confucius Institute at the UL.
Huang Laoshi recorded that the 2024 Confucius Institute Day, which is the 16th Anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia ignited in 2004 when Chinese institutions and their overseas counterparts began to jointly establish Confucius Institutes based on the principles of mutual respect, friendly negotiation, equality, and mutual benefit. She added that since its establishment, the Confucius Institute has been connecting cultures and hearts by language.
In furtherance, the coordinator asserted that with a dedication to Chinese language teaching, the Confucius Institute has built platforms for cultural exchange and mutual learning to promote understanding and friendship among people of different countries.
She continued by recalling that in 2008, the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia (CIUL), co-established by Changsha University of Science and Technology and the University of Liberia, was unveiled.
She provided that with the joint efforts from Liberia staff and Chinese teachers, CIUL is
constantly developing and expanding with an ever-increasing influence, and has become a bridge connecting Chinese and Liberians.
At the same time, the Director of CIUL, Assis. Professor. Dexter S. Sumo lauded the students for their dexterity in mastering the Chinese language and culture. The CIUL’s Director, Dexter Sumo, acknowledged the level of achievements by the Institute over the years. “Since the inception, [up to] the CIUL’s 16th year now, we have produced competent scholars and we are proud to announce,” he boasted.
The CIUL director stated that the Confucius Institute at the University is a testament to the long-standing diplomatic tide that exists between Liberia and China. He intimated that the cultural exchange activities of Confucius Institutions are necessary for the growth and academic development of Liberian students. Therefore, he wants more Liberians to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Confucius Institute.
He described the 16th anniversary of the institute as saying “We are flourishing in our 16th anniversary.” According to him, the Institute’s students are considered as soil while they (teachers) are the seed, “because if we plant into the sold; we expect germination and for a seed to germinate, we expect fruit that goes across for everyone to enjoy.”
Sumo expressed excitement over the institute’s achievements since its foundation and disclosed that there are a lot of opportunities at the Confucius Institute for students who are willing to learn Chinese. “ There are a lot of our students who are currently studying at various Universities in China you can be like them,” he said. These students, according to him, have been there for some time now while others just left in 2023.
“Last year the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia sent another student to China for a master’s program, “We are proud of what we do at CIUL and this is a worthy celebration,” said Director Sumo.
Meanwhile, the Co-director, Professor Zhou Hongzhuanrecounted the long-standing friendship between Liberia and China. She also recalled on June 15, 2004, China and Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement for the Confucius Institute University of Oriental Studies, marking the establishment of the world’s first Confucius.
This he said was the beginning of building platforms for cultural exchange through the Institute. Looking back on the past 20 years, madam said with a dedication to Chinese language teaching, the Confucius Institute has been mutual learning to promote understanding and friendship among the people of different countries. At the same time, Aisha D Lansang, Grand Prize winner lauded the Institute for bringing forth Chinese language and culture to improve the academic activities of Liberian students.
She asserted that the institution has enhanced the ability of Liberian students internationally and continues to build Liberia’s human capital by providing opportunities for academic empowerment. She admonished Liberian students, mainly female to take on the challenge of learning the Chinese language and culture to improve and contribute to the development of Liberia.
