The Dynamics of Sino-Nigerian Cultural Exchange Through Nigerian Students Returned from China in Katsina State

Over 10,000 Nigerian students have studied in China over the past two decades, and their return has created a significant cohort of China-experienced individuals capable of serving as cultural bridges between the two countries. This study examines the lived experiences and cultural exchange roles of Nigerian returnee students from China in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. A qualitative research design was adopted, with in-depth interviews conducted with 30 Nigerians who completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies in China between 2015 and 2023 and have since returned to Katsina. The study explores the cultural knowledge they bring back, their professional trajectories, and their community roles as informal cultural mediators. Findings indicate that returnee students carry nuanced understandings of Chinese culture, language, and professional norms, positioning them as valuable assets for local businesses engaging with Chinese partners. Many returnees serve as informal interpreters and cultural advisors for Katsina State government agencies and private enterprises. However, institutional mechanisms to formally utilise their expertise are largely absent. Returnees also report experiencing reverse culture shock and social scepticism from community members who associate their Chinese education with political alignment. The study concludes that Nigerian returnee students from China represent an underutilised resource for Sino-Nigerian cultural diplomacy and recommends government schemes to formally incorporate their expertise into state-level China engagement strategies in the North West.

Keywords: Nigerian returnee students, China education, cultural exchange, Katsina State, Sino-Nigerian relations