Developing Mandarin Business Communication Training for Nigerian Finance Sector Professionals

Nigeria's banking, insurance, and capital market sectors increasingly interact with Chinese financial institutions, investors, and fintech companies, creating demand for Mandarin business communication competency among Nigerian finance sector professionals. This study develops and evaluates a framework for Mandarin business communication training tailored to the specific professional needs of Nigerian finance sector practitioners. A professional needs assessment and curriculum development design was adopted, beginning with structured questionnaires administered to 90 Nigerian finance professionals in Lagos and Abuja who interact with Chinese financial counterparts, followed by expert review of a proposed curriculum framework by ten Chinese language instructors and five senior finance industry practitioners. Needs assessment findings indicate that negotiating loan terms, reading financial documents in Chinese, communicating with Chinese investors, and participating in Mandarin-language conference calls are the four priority communication scenarios identified. A modular training framework was developed covering financial Mandarin vocabulary, formal financial correspondence, numerical and statistical communication conventions in Chinese, and cultural protocols for financial relationship management. Expert review validated the curriculum's professional relevance and recommended its delivery through eight-week intensive workshops available online and in-person. The study recommends the framework be adopted by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for professional development certification and piloted as an elective programme in collaboration with a Confucius Institute in Lagos.

Keywords: Mandarin business communication, finance sector, professional training, Nigerian banking, curriculum development