It was indeed a celebration of culture as the National Troupe of Nigeria, the Kwara State Cultural Troupe and the Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe showcased different types of Nigerian dance at the opening ceremony at the second Nigerian Cultural Week held in Nanjing Province, China recently.

This was the outcome of High Chief Edem Duke,Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation's  strong belief in partnership and desire to project the cultural diversity of the country.

In line with that, at the well attended meeting, the National Troupe of Nigeria,the Kwara State Cultural Troupe and the Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe which represented Nigeria displayed scintillating performances to the applause of the audience. It also witnessed a brief appearance of Emmanuel Uwuechue, a Nigerian musician in China, whose fluency singing in Chinese was a delight to the Chinese and Nigerian delegations.

Uwuechue, who goes by the stage name ‘Hao Ge'meaning ‘Good Song', and other Nigerian Troupes, treated a Chinese audience of over 1,000 to another round of performances at the Mochou Lake Park where the Minister Duke, announced the appointment of Uwuechue as Nigeria's cultural ambassador in China.

There were also exhibitions put up by the National Council for Arts and Culture, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, the National Gallery of Art, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and the National Commission for Museums & Monuments combined to give expression to rich cultural heritage of Nigeria as well as propagation of this heritage and that of Africa at home and in the diaspora.

Speaking during the opening ceremony which took place at the auditorium of Jinling Library, in Nanjing, the minister, who led the Nigerian delegation stated that Nigeria was one of the top four investment-friendly nations in the world. High Chief Duke told the Chinese Government that there were huge opportunities for investment in the hospitality industry — resorts, entertainment, leisure parks and development of theatres across Nigeria.

Duke who underscored the importance of inter- cultural relations and, especially cultural diplomacy, to the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration said, "For us in Nigeria, we have always believed, like the people of this great country that culture is the most definitive element of any people.”.

Duke also expressed appreciation, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan and the people of Nigeria, to the Government and people of China for the quality and level of cultural cooperation between the two countries, especially the recent opening of a Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja, apparently in reciprocation of the opening of a Nigerian Cultural Centre in Beijing in 2011.

Overwhelmed by enthusiasm expressed at the roundtable, the minister called for incentives and the institution of low entry barrier for investors from China. This, according to him, would help to open up the economy, boost activities in the culture and tourism sub-sectors, and create a significant number of jobs as obtained in China and other parts of the developed world.

Also speaking, Director, Nanjing Investment Promotion Commission, Chen Lei, said China regards Nigeria as an economic powerhouse in Africa and that some Chinese investors have already started businesses in Nigeria while more have signified strong intentions to also invest in the country.