Nnamdi Azikiwe University has announced Ifeanyi Odinye as the first indigenous professor of Chinese language in Nigeria and potentially across the continent of Africa.
The distinguished professor, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Chinese Studies, reflects on his journey and the evolution of Chinese language education in the country.
Professor Odinye, who joined the university in 2005, reached this significant milestone with gratitude and joy.
The inception of Chinese language teaching in Nigeria dates back to 2004 when Ilochi Okafor (SAN), then vice-chancellor, initiated the programme at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
This visionary move followed a suggestion from the late Ike Mbaonu, a NAN staff member with connections to China.
The subsequent visit of the Chinese Embassy in 2005, facilitated by Jiang Wenmin, led to the establishment of the Confucius Institute dedicated to teaching Chinese language and culture.
Odinye, nominated by Ilochi Okafor, pursued further studies in China from 2005 to 2007, marking the beginning of Chinese language and culture classes at the university.
He succeeded Liu Guancai, becoming the first Nigerian indigenous Chinese lecturer, proficient in Igbo, English, and Chinese.
The challenges of being a pioneer in Chinese language education in Nigeria did not deter Odinye.
He navigated a resource-limited environment and a demanding workload. Despite the hurdles, the Confucius Institute officially took root in 2008, with Odinye serving as its Acting Director until the arrival of Prof. Ji Nengwen in 2009.
In 2010, Odinye, having completed his doctorate in Chinese language from Xiamen University, returned to the university as the first Nigerian lecturer with a Ph.D. in Chinese language.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) approved a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Studies in 2014/2015, with Odinye appointed as the inaugural coordinator of the Department of Chinese Studies.
Reflecting on his journey, Odinye expressed gratitude to past vice-chancellors, including Ilochi Okafor, Boniface Egboka, and Joseph Ahaneku.
He commended the current vice-chancellor, Charles Esimone, for ongoing support and promotion.
Despite initial challenges, Odinye takes pride in the progress of the Chinese language programme at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, emphasizing the joy of shaping minds and acknowledging the unwavering support of his family.
Ugochi Olivia Ubah is an Educator and a Writer